Published Thursday, 20 March, 2008 at 12:17 PM
Minister for Main Roads and Local Government
The Honourable Warren Pitt
Traffic fines revenue funnelled into 90 safer roads projects
Red light and speed camera fines will help fund $54 million worth of vital road projects targeting Queensland's road toll.
Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt has announced that $31 million in traffic camera fine revenue, boosted by another $23 million from Main Roads, would be invested in road improvements under the Safer Roads Sooner program.
"The Safer Roads Sooner program is about creating better roads for Queensland. It is aimed at addressing the road toll and reducing the number of people who sustain serious injuries in road crashes,'' Mr Pitt said.
"Through this program, fines collected from motorists caught doing the wrong thing are going straight back into life-saving road improvements."
Mr Pitt said 90 new high priority projects across Queensland had been approved by the Safer Roads Sooner Advisory Committee, which includes key stakeholders from major road safety groups.
Mr Pitt said the Safer Roads Sooner program focused on reducing the road toll and the huge social and financial impact of road trauma.
"Queensland's road toll is a serious concern which the State Government is committed to addressing through works such as these," he said.
"From new bitumen surfacing and roadside hazard removal to guard rails and traffic lights, these projects will make a definite impact on road safety throughout Queensland.
The 88 new SRS projects and two new targeted action programs to take place primarily in 2009-10 include:
• 62 new Targeted Road Safety Initiative (TRSI) projects totalling $38.3 million over three years to specifically target death and serious injury locations across the state
• 16 new proactive projects totalling $10.1 million over three years, to improve roadsides including vegetation clearing, providing rest stops and installing roadside barriers
• 10 new proactive projects totalling $4.4 million over three years, including sealing lengths of unsealed rural roads to provide safer overtaking opportunities
• 2 new targeted action programs totalling $1.5 million over two years, targeting motorcycle safety and intelligent transport systems and signs.
Mr Pitt said locations with a serious crash history or that had been identified as having a potential problem were prioritised for Safer Roads Sooner funding.
"The committee determines the highest road safety priorities while measuring the benefits as a result of this targeted investment,'' he said.
"Importantly half the Safer Roads Sooner funding is spent in rural and regional Queensland."
Mr Pitt said while these works would make a difference, it was important to remember that driver behaviour was the overwhelming contributing factor in serious crashes.
"For this reason I would like to take this opportunity to remind motorists to always drive to the road and weather conditions."
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819
Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt has announced that $31 million in traffic camera fine revenue, boosted by another $23 million from Main Roads, would be invested in road improvements under the Safer Roads Sooner program.
"The Safer Roads Sooner program is about creating better roads for Queensland. It is aimed at addressing the road toll and reducing the number of people who sustain serious injuries in road crashes,'' Mr Pitt said.
"Through this program, fines collected from motorists caught doing the wrong thing are going straight back into life-saving road improvements."
Mr Pitt said 90 new high priority projects across Queensland had been approved by the Safer Roads Sooner Advisory Committee, which includes key stakeholders from major road safety groups.
Mr Pitt said the Safer Roads Sooner program focused on reducing the road toll and the huge social and financial impact of road trauma.
"Queensland's road toll is a serious concern which the State Government is committed to addressing through works such as these," he said.
"From new bitumen surfacing and roadside hazard removal to guard rails and traffic lights, these projects will make a definite impact on road safety throughout Queensland.
The 88 new SRS projects and two new targeted action programs to take place primarily in 2009-10 include:
• 62 new Targeted Road Safety Initiative (TRSI) projects totalling $38.3 million over three years to specifically target death and serious injury locations across the state
• 16 new proactive projects totalling $10.1 million over three years, to improve roadsides including vegetation clearing, providing rest stops and installing roadside barriers
• 10 new proactive projects totalling $4.4 million over three years, including sealing lengths of unsealed rural roads to provide safer overtaking opportunities
• 2 new targeted action programs totalling $1.5 million over two years, targeting motorcycle safety and intelligent transport systems and signs.
Mr Pitt said locations with a serious crash history or that had been identified as having a potential problem were prioritised for Safer Roads Sooner funding.
"The committee determines the highest road safety priorities while measuring the benefits as a result of this targeted investment,'' he said.
"Importantly half the Safer Roads Sooner funding is spent in rural and regional Queensland."
Mr Pitt said while these works would make a difference, it was important to remember that driver behaviour was the overwhelming contributing factor in serious crashes.
"For this reason I would like to take this opportunity to remind motorists to always drive to the road and weather conditions."
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819