Published Wednesday, 18 April, 2007 at 09:34 AM
JOINT STATEMENT
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Paul Lucas
TRAFFIC FINES MAKE SAFER ROADS
Red light and speed camera fines are being funnelled into a targeted $46 million assault on Queensland’s road toll.
Premier Peter Beattie and Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Paul Lucas, have announced almost $34 million in traffic camera fines, plus another $12 million from Main Roads, would be invested in better roads by the Queensland Government’s Safer Roads Sooner program.
“The fines we’ve collected from motorists who’ve been caught by a camera for speeding or running a red light are being poured into road infrastructure to save lives.
“It’s a targeted strategy and it’s aimed at reducing not only the road toll but also the number of people ending up in hospital with serious injuries,” the Premier said.
Mr Lucas said 77 high priority projects statewide had been approved for 2008-09 by the Safer Roads Sooner Advisory Committee headed by Parliamentary Secretary for Main Roads Andrew McNamara.
"Reducing the road toll and the huge social and financial costs of road trauma is the primary focus of the Safer Roads Sooner strategy.
“From guard rails and traffic lights, to overtaking lanes and new bitumen, these are the critical works we believe will make a real difference to our road toll.
“The 77 projects approved by Safer Roads Sooner demonstrate the Beattie Government’s genuine commitment to doing all it can to save lives,” Mr Lucas said.
261 safety projects in total have been approved since 2005 by the Safer Roads Sooner Ministerial Advisory Committee.
Professor Mary Sheehan from Queensland University of Technology's accident research group, CARRS-Q, and the RACQ are among the committee’s panel of road safety experts and key decision makers.
Mr Beattie said only locations with a crash history were considered by the Safer Roads Sooner Committee for a share of the $46 million in road safety funding.
“We’ve targeted projects which will make the biggest impact, the projects recognised by the experts as the best value for money.
“Yes, copping a speed or red light camera fine is tough but if you do the wrong thing on the road you have to be prepared to accept the consequences.
‘‘The Safer Roads Sooner strategy is rock solid evidence the traffic camera fines the Government collects aren’t revenue raising, they’re being channelled into delivering safer roads for the benefit of all Queenslanders.
“And more than half of our smart $46 million investment in safer roads will be spent outside of the South East,” the Premier said.
Media information:
Premier’s Office – 3224 4500
Minister’s Office – 3237 1949
Premier Peter Beattie and Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Paul Lucas, have announced almost $34 million in traffic camera fines, plus another $12 million from Main Roads, would be invested in better roads by the Queensland Government’s Safer Roads Sooner program.
“The fines we’ve collected from motorists who’ve been caught by a camera for speeding or running a red light are being poured into road infrastructure to save lives.
“It’s a targeted strategy and it’s aimed at reducing not only the road toll but also the number of people ending up in hospital with serious injuries,” the Premier said.
Mr Lucas said 77 high priority projects statewide had been approved for 2008-09 by the Safer Roads Sooner Advisory Committee headed by Parliamentary Secretary for Main Roads Andrew McNamara.
"Reducing the road toll and the huge social and financial costs of road trauma is the primary focus of the Safer Roads Sooner strategy.
“From guard rails and traffic lights, to overtaking lanes and new bitumen, these are the critical works we believe will make a real difference to our road toll.
“The 77 projects approved by Safer Roads Sooner demonstrate the Beattie Government’s genuine commitment to doing all it can to save lives,” Mr Lucas said.
261 safety projects in total have been approved since 2005 by the Safer Roads Sooner Ministerial Advisory Committee.
Professor Mary Sheehan from Queensland University of Technology's accident research group, CARRS-Q, and the RACQ are among the committee’s panel of road safety experts and key decision makers.
Mr Beattie said only locations with a crash history were considered by the Safer Roads Sooner Committee for a share of the $46 million in road safety funding.
“We’ve targeted projects which will make the biggest impact, the projects recognised by the experts as the best value for money.
“Yes, copping a speed or red light camera fine is tough but if you do the wrong thing on the road you have to be prepared to accept the consequences.
‘‘The Safer Roads Sooner strategy is rock solid evidence the traffic camera fines the Government collects aren’t revenue raising, they’re being channelled into delivering safer roads for the benefit of all Queenslanders.
“And more than half of our smart $46 million investment in safer roads will be spent outside of the South East,” the Premier said.
Media information:
Premier’s Office – 3224 4500
Minister’s Office – 3237 1949