❓ A WA parliamentary question regarding the double demerit point road safety initiative. The Minister provides details of the trial, its positive impact on driver behaviour and crash reduction, and the decision to extend the trial period.
AnsweredQoN 1114Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Will the minister provide details to the House of the recently announced double demerit point road safety initiative and the effect of this initiative on road safety in Western Australia? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for his question and for his continued interest in road safety and reducing the road toll and the number of car crashes on our roads. A trial of the double demerit system has been in place since Easter 2002. Unlike some members opposite, I do not regard this to be a laughing matter. The fact is that nearly 200 people each year lose their lives on the road, and many people are involved in serious crashes. I am talking about a very serious initiative the Government undertook during the Easter 2002 holiday period to trial the double demerit point system. It applied to matters known to be the biggest killers on the road; namely, speed, alcohol and the non-wearing of seatbelts. The double demerit points penalty over the long weekend and danger periods on the roads applied only to the big killers. The concept was simple: if road users changed their attitude at this traditional time of serious injury and death, they could avoid the higher demerit points. Importantly, the Government did not introduce any higher fines or double fines; it only doubled the demerit points. The Office of Road Safety has evaluated the results of the Road Safety Council assessment of the double demerit system, which indicated that driver behaviour significantly improved during those periods on our roads. The key results of the evaluation include a reduction in traffic infringements by 17 per cent, while police traffic enforcement hours during the double demerit periods increased by five per cent; a decrease of 16 per cent in the total reported crashes during the double demerit period in 2002 compared with 2001 ; and speed-related crashes were down by some 37 per cent, alcohol-related crashes were down by 26 per cent, and crashes involving the non-use of seatbelts were down by 42 per cent during that period. I also note that 73 per cent of the drivers interviewed expressed their support for the double demerit system. These statistics are very pleasing and provide a clear indication of the change in the attitude and behaviour of the community towards the major causes of death on the roads. However, it is believed that a long evaluation period will be worthwhile in determining whether there will be any so-called wearing-off of the effect of the double demerit system. As a result, the double demerit trial on long weekends and public holidays will be extended to June next year.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: I thank the member for his question and for his continued interest in road safety and reducing the road toll and the number of car crashes on our roads. A trial of the double demerit system has been in place since Easter 2002. Unlike some members opposite, I do not regard this to be a laughing matter. The fact is that nearly 200 people each year lose their lives on the road, and many people are involved in serious crashes. I am talking about a very serious initiative the Government undertook during the Easter 2002 holiday period to trial the double demerit point system. It applied to matters known to be the biggest killers on the road; namely, speed, alcohol and the non-wearing of seatbelts. The double demerit points penalty over the long weekend and danger periods on the roads applied only to the big killers. The concept was simple: if road users changed their attitude at this traditional time of serious injury and death, they could avoid the higher demerit points. Importantly, the Government did not introduce any higher fines or double fines; it only doubled the demerit points. The Office of Road Safety has evaluated the results of the Road Safety Council assessment of the double demerit system, which indicated that driver behaviour significantly improved during those periods on our roads. The key results of the evaluation include a reduction in traffic infringements by 17 per cent, while police traffic enforcement hours during the double demerit periods increased by five per cent; a decrease of 16 per cent in the total reported crashes during the double demerit period in 2002 compared with 2001 ; and speed-related crashes were down by some 37 per cent, alcohol-related crashes were down by 26 per cent, and crashes involving the non-use of seatbelts were down by 42 per cent during that period. I also note that 73 per cent of the drivers interviewed expressed their support for the double demerit system. These statistics are very pleasing and provide a clear indication of the change in the attitude and behaviour of the community towards the major causes of death on the roads. However, it is believed that a long evaluation period will be worthwhile in determining whether there will be any so-called wearing-off of the effect of the double demerit system. As a result, the double demerit trial on long weekends and public holidays will be extended to June next year.
I thank the member for his question and for his continued interest in road safety and reducing the road toll and the number of car crashes on our roads. A trial of the double demerit system has been in place since Easter 2002. Unlike some members opposite, I do not regard this to be a laughing matter. The fact is that nearly 200 people each year lose their lives on the road, and many people are involved in serious crashes. I am talking about a very serious initiative the Government undertook during the Easter 2002 holiday period to trial the double demerit point system. It applied to matters known to be the biggest killers on the road; namely, speed, alcohol and the non-wearing of seatbelts. The double demerit points penalty over the long weekend and danger periods on the roads applied only to the big killers. The concept was simple: if road users changed their attitude at this traditional time of serious injury and death, they could avoid the higher demerit points. Importantly, the Government did not introduce any higher fines or double fines; it only doubled the demerit points. The Office of Road Safety has evaluated the results of the Road Safety Council assessment of the double demerit system, which indicated that driver behaviour significantly improved during those periods on our roads. The key results of the evaluation include a reduction in traffic infringements by 17 per cent, while police traffic enforcement hours during the double demerit periods increased by five per cent; a decrease of 16 per cent in the total reported crashes during the double demerit period in 2002 compared with 2001 ; and speed-related crashes were down by some 37 per cent, alcohol-related crashes were down by 26 per cent, and crashes involving the non-use of seatbelts were down by 42 per cent during that period. I also note that 73 per cent of the drivers interviewed expressed their support for the double demerit system. These statistics are very pleasing and provide a clear indication of the change in the attitude and behaviour of the community towards the major causes of death on the roads. However, it is believed that a long evaluation period will be worthwhile in determining whether there will be any so-called wearing-off of the effect of the double demerit system. As a result, the double demerit trial on long weekends and public holidays will be extended to June next year.
Unlike some members opposite, I do not regard this to be a laughing matter. The fact is that nearly 200 people each year lose their lives on the road, and many people are involved in serious crashes. I am talking about a very serious initiative the Government undertook during the Easter 2002 holiday period to trial the double demerit point system. It applied to matters known to be the biggest killers on the road; namely, speed, alcohol and the non-wearing of seatbelts. The double demerit points penalty over the long weekend and danger periods on the roads applied only to the big killers. The concept was simple: if road users changed their attitude at this traditional time of serious injury and death, they could avoid the higher demerit points. Importantly, the Government did not introduce any higher fines or double fines; it only doubled the demerit points. The Office of Road Safety has evaluated the results of the Road Safety Council assessment of the double demerit system, which indicated that driver behaviour significantly improved during those periods on our roads. The key results of the evaluation include a reduction in traffic infringements by 17 per cent, while police traffic enforcement hours during the double demerit periods increased by five per cent; a decrease of 16 per cent in the total reported crashes during the double demerit period in 2002 compared with 2001 ; and speed-related crashes were down by some 37 per cent, alcohol-related crashes were down by 26 per cent, and crashes involving the non-use of seatbelts were down by 42 per cent during that period. I also note that 73 per cent of the drivers interviewed expressed their support for the double demerit system. These statistics are very pleasing and provide a clear indication of the change in the attitude and behaviour of the community towards the major causes of death on the roads. However, it is believed that a long evaluation period will be worthwhile in determining whether there will be any so-called wearing-off of the effect of the double demerit system. As a result, the double demerit trial on long weekends and public holidays will be extended to June next year.
The Office of Road Safety has evaluated the results of the Road Safety Council assessment of the double demerit system, which indicated that driver behaviour significantly improved during those periods on our roads. The key results of the evaluation include a reduction in traffic infringements by 17 per cent, while police traffic enforcement hours during the double demerit periods increased by five per cent; a decrease of 16 per cent in the total reported crashes during the double demerit period in 2002 compared with 2001 ; and speed-related crashes were down by some 37 per cent, alcohol-related crashes were down by 26 per cent, and crashes involving the non-use of seatbelts were down by 42 per cent during that period. I also note that 73 per cent of the drivers interviewed expressed their support for the double demerit system. These statistics are very pleasing and provide a clear indication of the change in the attitude and behaviour of the community towards the major causes of death on the roads. However, it is believed that a long evaluation period will be worthwhile in determining whether there will be any so-called wearing-off of the effect of the double demerit system. As a result, the double demerit trial on long weekends and public holidays will be extended to June next year.
However, it is believed that a long evaluation period will be worthwhile in determining whether there will be any so-called wearing-off of the effect of the double demerit system. As a result, the double demerit trial on long weekends and public holidays will be extended to June next year.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: I thank the member for his question and for his continued interest in road safety and reducing the road toll and the number of car crashes on our roads. A trial of the double demerit system has been in place since Easter 2002. Unlike some members opposite, I do not regard this to be a laughing matter. The fact is that nearly 200 people each year lose their lives on the road, and many people are involved in serious crashes. I am talking about a very serious initiative the Government undertook during the Easter 2002 holiday period to trial the double demerit point system. It applied to matters known to be the biggest killers on the road; namely, speed, alcohol and the non-wearing of seatbelts. The double demerit points penalty over the long weekend and danger periods on the roads applied only to the big killers. The concept was simple: if road users changed their attitude at this traditional time of serious injury and death, they could avoid the higher demerit points. Importantly, the Government did not introduce any higher fines or double fines; it only doubled the demerit points. The Office of Road Safety has evaluated the results of the Road Safety Council assessment of the double demerit system, which indicated that driver behaviour significantly improved during those periods on our roads. The key results of the evaluation include a reduction in traffic infringements by 17 per cent, while police traffic enforcement hours during the double demerit periods increased by five per cent; a decrease of 16 per cent in the total reported crashes during the double demerit period in 2002 compared with 2001 ; and speed-related crashes were down by some 37 per cent, alcohol-related crashes were down by 26 per cent, and crashes involving the non-use of seatbelts were down by 42 per cent during that period. I also note that 73 per cent of the drivers interviewed expressed their support for the double demerit system. These statistics are very pleasing and provide a clear indication of the change in the attitude and behaviour of the community towards the major causes of death on the roads. However, it is believed that a long evaluation period will be worthwhile in determining whether there will be any so-called wearing-off of the effect of the double demerit system. As a result, the double demerit trial on long weekends and public holidays will be extended to June next year.
I thank the member for his question and for his continued interest in road safety and reducing the road toll and the number of car crashes on our roads. A trial of the double demerit system has been in place since Easter 2002. Unlike some members opposite, I do not regard this to be a laughing matter. The fact is that nearly 200 people each year lose their lives on the road, and many people are involved in serious crashes. I am talking about a very serious initiative the Government undertook during the Easter 2002 holiday period to trial the double demerit point system. It applied to matters known to be the biggest killers on the road; namely, speed, alcohol and the non-wearing of seatbelts. The double demerit points penalty over the long weekend and danger periods on the roads applied only to the big killers. The concept was simple: if road users changed their attitude at this traditional time of serious injury and death, they could avoid the higher demerit points. Importantly, the Government did not introduce any higher fines or double fines; it only doubled the demerit points. The Office of Road Safety has evaluated the results of the Road Safety Council assessment of the double demerit system, which indicated that driver behaviour significantly improved during those periods on our roads. The key results of the evaluation include a reduction in traffic infringements by 17 per cent, while police traffic enforcement hours during the double demerit periods increased by five per cent; a decrease of 16 per cent in the total reported crashes during the double demerit period in 2002 compared with 2001 ; and speed-related crashes were down by some 37 per cent, alcohol-related crashes were down by 26 per cent, and crashes involving the non-use of seatbelts were down by 42 per cent during that period. I also note that 73 per cent of the drivers interviewed expressed their support for the double demerit system. These statistics are very pleasing and provide a clear indication of the change in the attitude and behaviour of the community towards the major causes of death on the roads. However, it is believed that a long evaluation period will be worthwhile in determining whether there will be any so-called wearing-off of the effect of the double demerit system. As a result, the double demerit trial on long weekends and public holidays will be extended to June next year.
Unlike some members opposite, I do not regard this to be a laughing matter. The fact is that nearly 200 people each year lose their lives on the road, and many people are involved in serious crashes. I am talking about a very serious initiative the Government undertook during the Easter 2002 holiday period to trial the double demerit point system. It applied to matters known to be the biggest killers on the road; namely, speed, alcohol and the non-wearing of seatbelts. The double demerit points penalty over the long weekend and danger periods on the roads applied only to the big killers. The concept was simple: if road users changed their attitude at this traditional time of serious injury and death, they could avoid the higher demerit points. Importantly, the Government did not introduce any higher fines or double fines; it only doubled the demerit points. The Office of Road Safety has evaluated the results of the Road Safety Council assessment of the double demerit system, which indicated that driver behaviour significantly improved during those periods on our roads. The key results of the evaluation include a reduction in traffic infringements by 17 per cent, while police traffic enforcement hours during the double demerit periods increased by five per cent; a decrease of 16 per cent in the total reported crashes during the double demerit period in 2002 compared with 2001 ; and speed-related crashes were down by some 37 per cent, alcohol-related crashes were down by 26 per cent, and crashes involving the non-use of seatbelts were down by 42 per cent during that period. I also note that 73 per cent of the drivers interviewed expressed their support for the double demerit system. These statistics are very pleasing and provide a clear indication of the change in the attitude and behaviour of the community towards the major causes of death on the roads. However, it is believed that a long evaluation period will be worthwhile in determining whether there will be any so-called wearing-off of the effect of the double demerit system. As a result, the double demerit trial on long weekends and public holidays will be extended to June next year.
The Office of Road Safety has evaluated the results of the Road Safety Council assessment of the double demerit system, which indicated that driver behaviour significantly improved during those periods on our roads. The key results of the evaluation include a reduction in traffic infringements by 17 per cent, while police traffic enforcement hours during the double demerit periods increased by five per cent; a decrease of 16 per cent in the total reported crashes during the double demerit period in 2002 compared with 2001 ; and speed-related crashes were down by some 37 per cent, alcohol-related crashes were down by 26 per cent, and crashes involving the non-use of seatbelts were down by 42 per cent during that period. I also note that 73 per cent of the drivers interviewed expressed their support for the double demerit system. These statistics are very pleasing and provide a clear indication of the change in the attitude and behaviour of the community towards the major causes of death on the roads. However, it is believed that a long evaluation period will be worthwhile in determining whether there will be any so-called wearing-off of the effect of the double demerit system. As a result, the double demerit trial on long weekends and public holidays will be extended to June next year.
However, it is believed that a long evaluation period will be worthwhile in determining whether there will be any so-called wearing-off of the effect of the double demerit system. As a result, the double demerit trial on long weekends and public holidays will be extended to June next year.
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