❓ Hon Alan Cadby raises concerns about local authorities planting trees in the centre of suburban roads, citing road crash statistics. Hon N.D. Griffiths acknowledges the practice, states there's no government policy on it, and highlights the government's focus on reducing speed limits to improve road safety.
AnsweredQoN 1024Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
Approximately 22 per cent of all road crashes are caused by vehicles hitting objects such as trees and poles. What is the Government’s policy on the recent practice of some local authorities of planting trees down the centre of undivided suburban roads, each of these trees being protected by two bollard-type posts 1.5 metres tall and approximately 25 centimetres in diameter? Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. Currently, there is no government policy in relation to planting trees down the centre of undivided suburban roads. However, it is recognised that some councils are installing bollards around trees in low-speed environments. For the information of the House, in 2001 around 35 per cent of fatal crashes statewide were as a result of hitting objects such as trees and poles. The majority of hit-object fatal crashes - 76 per cent - occur in rural areas at higher speeds. The figure is lower - 24 per cent - in the metropolitan area where speeds are lower. The speed at which vehicles are travelling is a key factor in road crashes. The State Government supports a reduction in overall travel speeds. This can be achieved by lowering the speed limit on particular classes of roads, as well as by encouraging motorists to drive at or below the existing posted limit. I was not necessarily looking at Hon Frank Hough when I was saying that. The introduction of the 50-kilometre per hour default built-up area speed limit is part of this commitment.
Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. Currently, there is no government policy in relation to planting trees down the centre of undivided suburban roads. However, it is recognised that some councils are installing bollards around trees in low-speed environments. For the information of the House, in 2001 around 35 per cent of fatal crashes statewide were as a result of hitting objects such as trees and poles. The majority of hit-object fatal crashes - 76 per cent - occur in rural areas at higher speeds. The figure is lower - 24 per cent - in the metropolitan area where speeds are lower. The speed at which vehicles are travelling is a key factor in road crashes. The State Government supports a reduction in overall travel speeds. This can be achieved by lowering the speed limit on particular classes of roads, as well as by encouraging motorists to drive at or below the existing posted limit. I was not necessarily looking at Hon Frank Hough when I was saying that. The introduction of the 50-kilometre per hour default built-up area speed limit is part of this commitment.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. Currently, there is no government policy in relation to planting trees down the centre of undivided suburban roads. However, it is recognised that some councils are installing bollards around trees in low-speed environments. For the information of the House, in 2001 around 35 per cent of fatal crashes statewide were as a result of hitting objects such as trees and poles. The majority of hit-object fatal crashes - 76 per cent - occur in rural areas at higher speeds. The figure is lower - 24 per cent - in the metropolitan area where speeds are lower. The speed at which vehicles are travelling is a key factor in road crashes. The State Government supports a reduction in overall travel speeds. This can be achieved by lowering the speed limit on particular classes of roads, as well as by encouraging motorists to drive at or below the existing posted limit. I was not necessarily looking at Hon Frank Hough when I was saying that. The introduction of the 50-kilometre per hour default built-up area speed limit is part of this commitment.
Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. Currently, there is no government policy in relation to planting trees down the centre of undivided suburban roads. However, it is recognised that some councils are installing bollards around trees in low-speed environments. For the information of the House, in 2001 around 35 per cent of fatal crashes statewide were as a result of hitting objects such as trees and poles. The majority of hit-object fatal crashes - 76 per cent - occur in rural areas at higher speeds. The figure is lower - 24 per cent - in the metropolitan area where speeds are lower. The speed at which vehicles are travelling is a key factor in road crashes. The State Government supports a reduction in overall travel speeds. This can be achieved by lowering the speed limit on particular classes of roads, as well as by encouraging motorists to drive at or below the existing posted limit. I was not necessarily looking at Hon Frank Hough when I was saying that. The introduction of the 50-kilometre per hour default built-up area speed limit is part of this commitment.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. Currently, there is no government policy in relation to planting trees down the centre of undivided suburban roads. However, it is recognised that some councils are installing bollards around trees in low-speed environments. For the information of the House, in 2001 around 35 per cent of fatal crashes statewide were as a result of hitting objects such as trees and poles. The majority of hit-object fatal crashes - 76 per cent - occur in rural areas at higher speeds. The figure is lower - 24 per cent - in the metropolitan area where speeds are lower. The speed at which vehicles are travelling is a key factor in road crashes. The State Government supports a reduction in overall travel speeds. This can be achieved by lowering the speed limit on particular classes of roads, as well as by encouraging motorists to drive at or below the existing posted limit. I was not necessarily looking at Hon Frank Hough when I was saying that. The introduction of the 50-kilometre per hour default built-up area speed limit is part of this commitment.
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