Published Monday, 12 February, 2007 at 02:15 PM
JOINT STATEMENT
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Paul Lucas
NEW INITIATIVES TO TARGET ROAD TOLL
ATHERTON: Premier Peter Beattie today announced new measures to further combat the state’s road toll, including increased fines and penalties as well as a regional launch of a new drink driving public awareness campaign.
Mr Beattie said the measures included increased penalties designed to reduce inattention, aggressive driving and distraction on the state’s roads and a statewide ‘reality-check’ drink driving campaign.
Mr Beattie said increased penalties that would come into effect from March 1, covered offences like tailgating, failing to stop at a red light and driving with a DVD or TV visible to the driver.
“Over the past 72 hours there have been some horrific accidents on our roads including a smash just south of Ingham that claimed four lives,” Mr Beattie said.
“While the cause of that particular crash is not known it is clear that the simple mistakes people are making on our roads every day are costing Queenslanders their lives.
“We constantly fighting to reduce the road toll and hopefully these new initiatives can help.
“Last year we introduced a number of new measures including double demerit point penalties for repeat speedsters and immediate licence suspensions for serial and high-end drink drivers.
“The new penalties being announced today are the next step of measures designed to deter people from the silly and dangerous behaviour that puts lives at risk.”
Mr Beattie said the key changes to around 120 offences included:
• Failing to stop at a red traffic light – from $135 fine and three demerit points to $225 and three demerit points,
• Driver failing to keep a safe distance (follow too close) – from $30 and one demerit point to $175 and one demerit point.
• Driving with a TV/DVD operating and screen visible to the driver – from $60 and one demerit point to $100 and three demerit points
• Fail to give way to police/emergency vehicle – from $105 and no demerit points to $175 and three demerit points.
Mr Beattie said the State Government was also continuing its education campaign to warn drivers to take better care on Queensland roads.
“Last night (Feb 11) Queensland Transport started a new series of advertisements aimed at driving home the stark consequences of drink driving,” Mr Beattie said.
The television advertisement is built around the story of Rockhampton resident Nick Benjamin, who became a paraplegic after crashing his car when he failed to properly negotiate a bend while driving after having too many drinks.
Between the start of August 2005 and the end of July last year, 83 people died as a result of crashes involving drink-driving.
Minister for Transport and Main Roads Paul Lucas said the television advertisements would be complemented by regional radio and outdoor advertisements around the state.
“In the advertisement, Nick speaks frankly about what he did and the consequences and I thank him for putting himself on the line and telling his story,” Mr Lucas said.
“Not only will Nick’s message remind people of the very real and very serious consequences of drink driving the radio advertisements will remind people that police will be watching – wherever they live.
“This year we have more police and more unmarked patrols than ever before, and these officers will conduct an estimated 2.8 million random breath tests.
“The new advertising campaign will reinforce the message that drink driving has serious consequences and that we won’t tolerate it.”
Mr Lucas said the increased penalties should remind drivers and passengers that the road rules were in place to keep people safe.
He said the statistics spoke for themselves. In 2005 there were:
• inattention – 27 fatalities, 991 hospitalisations and more than 55,300 infringement notices issued.
• driver distraction - 18 fatalities, 426 hospitalisations and more than 2500 infringement notices issued
• dangerous driving (tailgating) – 1 fatality, 221 hospitalisations and 2395 infringement notices issued.
“Tailgating is the sort of offence that can lead to aggressive behaviour on our roads and there’s absolutely no reason for it.”
“The State Government has implemented a range of measures designed to improve road safety and we’re funding our roads at record levels.
“But road safety also comes down to the individual choices people make every time they get in their car.
“I urge Queenslanders – drivers and passengers alike – to take care and responsibility on our roads.”
Mr Lucas said Queensland Transport would shortly begin advertising the new penalties and sanctions around the state.
12 February, 2007
Media contacts: Premier’s Office 3224 4500
Ministers Office 3237 1942
Mr Beattie said the measures included increased penalties designed to reduce inattention, aggressive driving and distraction on the state’s roads and a statewide ‘reality-check’ drink driving campaign.
Mr Beattie said increased penalties that would come into effect from March 1, covered offences like tailgating, failing to stop at a red light and driving with a DVD or TV visible to the driver.
“Over the past 72 hours there have been some horrific accidents on our roads including a smash just south of Ingham that claimed four lives,” Mr Beattie said.
“While the cause of that particular crash is not known it is clear that the simple mistakes people are making on our roads every day are costing Queenslanders their lives.
“We constantly fighting to reduce the road toll and hopefully these new initiatives can help.
“Last year we introduced a number of new measures including double demerit point penalties for repeat speedsters and immediate licence suspensions for serial and high-end drink drivers.
“The new penalties being announced today are the next step of measures designed to deter people from the silly and dangerous behaviour that puts lives at risk.”
Mr Beattie said the key changes to around 120 offences included:
• Failing to stop at a red traffic light – from $135 fine and three demerit points to $225 and three demerit points,
• Driver failing to keep a safe distance (follow too close) – from $30 and one demerit point to $175 and one demerit point.
• Driving with a TV/DVD operating and screen visible to the driver – from $60 and one demerit point to $100 and three demerit points
• Fail to give way to police/emergency vehicle – from $105 and no demerit points to $175 and three demerit points.
Mr Beattie said the State Government was also continuing its education campaign to warn drivers to take better care on Queensland roads.
“Last night (Feb 11) Queensland Transport started a new series of advertisements aimed at driving home the stark consequences of drink driving,” Mr Beattie said.
The television advertisement is built around the story of Rockhampton resident Nick Benjamin, who became a paraplegic after crashing his car when he failed to properly negotiate a bend while driving after having too many drinks.
Between the start of August 2005 and the end of July last year, 83 people died as a result of crashes involving drink-driving.
Minister for Transport and Main Roads Paul Lucas said the television advertisements would be complemented by regional radio and outdoor advertisements around the state.
“In the advertisement, Nick speaks frankly about what he did and the consequences and I thank him for putting himself on the line and telling his story,” Mr Lucas said.
“Not only will Nick’s message remind people of the very real and very serious consequences of drink driving the radio advertisements will remind people that police will be watching – wherever they live.
“This year we have more police and more unmarked patrols than ever before, and these officers will conduct an estimated 2.8 million random breath tests.
“The new advertising campaign will reinforce the message that drink driving has serious consequences and that we won’t tolerate it.”
Mr Lucas said the increased penalties should remind drivers and passengers that the road rules were in place to keep people safe.
He said the statistics spoke for themselves. In 2005 there were:
• inattention – 27 fatalities, 991 hospitalisations and more than 55,300 infringement notices issued.
• driver distraction - 18 fatalities, 426 hospitalisations and more than 2500 infringement notices issued
• dangerous driving (tailgating) – 1 fatality, 221 hospitalisations and 2395 infringement notices issued.
“Tailgating is the sort of offence that can lead to aggressive behaviour on our roads and there’s absolutely no reason for it.”
“The State Government has implemented a range of measures designed to improve road safety and we’re funding our roads at record levels.
“But road safety also comes down to the individual choices people make every time they get in their car.
“I urge Queenslanders – drivers and passengers alike – to take care and responsibility on our roads.”
Mr Lucas said Queensland Transport would shortly begin advertising the new penalties and sanctions around the state.
12 February, 2007
Media contacts: Premier’s Office 3224 4500
Ministers Office 3237 1942