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Motorists
association calls for fact based review of road toll.
The
National Motorists Association Australia Inc. today labelled Transport
Minister, Steve Bredhauer's plan to increase fines and demerit points
for speeding as nothing more that a cash grab dressed up as a road safety
initiative.
"Statements by the minister that they are using statistics to identify
problem areas are a joke, and if targeting speed even more is the best
solution the transport department can offer then the staff should consider
whether or not they might be more useful working in a different area."
Queensland spokesman for the NMAA, Mr. James Wright said.
A toll of 6 for the long weekend is a tragedy, but using this as an
excuse to extract more money out of motorists is a cynical and scurrilous
manouver. Over the past long weekend, 9000 people were booked for speeding
providing a huge cash bonanza for the government, yet yearly accident
statistics hold that 96 percent of accidents are not caused by speeding.
If 9000 people are speeding every weekend and there are almost no crashes
caused by speeding, then that's pretty good evidence that speeding is
NOT the problem.
Almost all police resources are focused on speed to the exclusion of
more relevant factors and this is costing lives daily. "Breaking road
rules other than speed limit breaches causes a large number of accidents
but speed cameras aren't triggered off by that."
"Fatigue looks to be responsible for most of the long weekend deaths,
but you can't measure that with a laser gun and make money from it."
Mr. Wright said.
Inexperience also shows up heavily in the fatality statistics but where
is the plan to address this deficiency? If the government were serious
about improving the road toll, they would make funds available to subsidise
enrolment in advanced driver training courses to drivers in their first
year on the road. For about ten million dollars (one quarter of the
revenue from speed cameras) they could significantly improve the skills
of as many as 10,000 young drivers. These improved skills will stay
with them for the rest of their driving lives.
For Comment, please contact:
James
Wright, Queensland Liaison Officer, National Motorists Association
Australia Inc. on 040 306 6986
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