Making NSW roads safer
21 February 2018
NSW Government:
Premier Gladys Berejiklian today released the
NSW Government’s Road Safety Plan, which includes a range of measures
aimed at reducing the
road toll after 392 people lost their lives on
NSW
roads in 2017.
The comprehensive package addresses speeding, drink driving, drug
driving, driver distraction, driver fatigue, truck safety and funding to
improve safety on country roads.
Ms Berejiklian said the Road Safety Plan is a concerted effort to save
lives by making sure roads and vehicles are as safe as possible.
“Every 41 minutes in NSW someone is either killed or seriously injured
on our roads, leaving families and friends with the heartache,” Ms
Berejiklian said.
“As a Government we know we can do more and that is why this Plan makes
it clear if you break the law you will be caught and will pay the price.
“We also want to ensure that our public education campaigns are targeted
in the right way.”
The measures announced today include:
-
Expanding the mandatory alcohol interlock program to include all mid-range drink driving offenders. An interlock is a breath testing device fitted to a car’s ignition system. The driver must provide a negative sample for the vehicle to start;
-
Police will be given the power to issue on the spot fines and licence suspensions for low range drink driving. This ensures swift and certain penalties;
-
Amending legislation to allow camera technology to be used to enforce mobile phone offences;
-
11 additional heavy vehicle average speed camera locations, including in metropolitan Sydney, to address risks associated with greater truck movements;
-
An initial $125 million for a new Saving Lives on Country Roads program including safety barriers, tactile line markings, wide centre line, safety upgrades of high risk curves and $11 million for pedestrian and cyclist safety improvements including traffic calming measures, pedestrian refuges and crossings to keep cyclists and walkers safe.
These measures are in addition to last month’s crack down on drug
drivers, which saw cocaine added to the list of drugs subject to
roadside testing, and the number of roadside drugs tests doubled from
100,000 a year to 200,000 a year by 2020.
The Road Safety Plan will bring the Government’s total commitment to
targeted road safety programs from the Community Road Safety Fund to
$1.4 billion over five years.
Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight Melinda Pavey said one of the
biggest challenges remains on country roads, which accounted for almost
70 per cent of the State’s road toll last year.
“If you live in the country you are four times more likely to die in a
road crash than if you live in metro NSW,” Ms Pavey said.
“This is why we will roll out 1600 kilometres of rumble strips and 300
kilometres in targeted safety works, such as flexible, wire-rope
barriers to help prevent run-off-road and head-on crashes on our road
network, including the Princes Highway.”
The Road Safety Plan includes a number of key initiatives for immediate
implementation as well as a number of other key measures that will be
subject to review and consultation.
A review into driving on prescription drugs has been requested by April
and the NSW Sentencing Council will be tasked with reporting back on
sentencing of repeat traffic offenders who may pose an ongoing risk to
the community.
The initiatives announced today are in addition to ongoing programs,
including our Safer Roads infrastructure program, safety around schools
and mandatory road safety education for every child in NSW.
--ENDS--
Source: NSW Government - www.transport.nsw.gov.au
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