Page 3945 - Week 14 - Tuesday, 23 October 1990
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It is interesting to compare these penalties with what we have interstate. The maximum traffic infringement in the ACT now is only $130. Let us take a speeding offence. The penalty is now $130 for exceeding the speed limit by more than 30 kilometres per hour. In New South Wales it is $250. In New South Wales, if you happen to be going more than 45 kilometres per hour over the limit, it is $500 for a car or $750 for a heavy truck or bus, plus you lose your licence for three months - automatic suspension. Victoria has similar provisions. We are still behind the other States - not way behind as we were in the past, but still behind. I am glad that Mr Duby and his department will be monitoring that, because that is so very important.
I think this Bill will have an important effect on driver behaviour if for no other reason than that it does start becoming expensive for offenders to continually be paying fines for their misbehaviour. But it should not be seen in isolation. This Bill is just one of a series of initiatives being undertaken by the Government to reduce the road toll and provide a safer road environment for us all.
The Federal Government's 10-point package of road safety initiatives, which has been agreed to in principle by the Government, includes requirements relating to increased enforcement of seat belt and child restraint wearing, which we have passed. It also provides greater penalties for not using restraints and will act as a deterrent to continued abuse of the law.
Other major initiatives that have been agreed by the Government include much tougher laws relating to drinking and driving, particularly for young and inexperienced drivers and drivers of heavy vehicles, including trucks and buses, and other public vehicle drivers. A lowering of the current .08 limit to .05 is also part of that package, and that law will be coming into force in the Territory soon.
Young and inexperienced drivers will be required to display "P" plates on their vehicles and conditions relating to the use of automatic vehicles and the towing of trailers will also be included as part of these important road safety initiatives. In relation to the "P" plate issue, perhaps we have been somewhat pampered here as this has never been included in the ACT before.
Current road safety programs which receive Government support include compulsory motorcycle rider training for learner riders, significant school-based road safety programs such as pre-licence driver education for year 10 to year 12 students, and general road safety programs targeted to suit school needs for preschools and primary schools. I think that is great, Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker, because I know that when I was a young motorcycle rider the police conducted a few programs but nothing was compulsory and we learnt nothing about it in school. That
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