Page 1756 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 18 August 1992
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As for the second amendment proposed, we agree that evidentiary certificates in respect of radar speed measuring devices are appropriate, and we support the proposal. Even these certificates will depend on the frequency of the checks made on the equipment. I assume that these would be fairly regular.
The amendment on child restraints is vitally important, and of course we support it. I was pleased to see further amendments making it compulsory for all children travelling in a motor vehicle to be restrained by a child restraint or a seat belt. There has always been the temptation for people to pile a whole lot of kids in the car just to go down the road from school or to and from sport. Whilst there is a lot of goodwill behind these shuttle services the parents set up amongst themselves, there are great potential dangers in the practice.
The final amendment concerning the banning of radar detectors and jamming devices is well overdue, and we totally support it. Any device that encourages speeding and unsafe practices must be banned. However, it should not be expected that banning radar detectors will produce any significant reduction in speeding infringements or, indeed, motor vehicle accidents. That solution still seems to evade us. We agree with the Bill.
MS SZUTY (4.16): I am pleased that the Government has moved to clarify and reinforce certain areas of the Motor Traffic Act which are covered by the amendment and supplementary amendment before the Assembly for consideration today. The clarification of who has right of way where a slip lane exists will be most welcome, especially if the Government takes the opportunity to ensure that the community is well informed of the effect of these changes to sections 120 and 123A of the Motor Traffic Act. I am convinced that the best legislation in the world is ineffective if members of the community are not made aware of their rights and obligations. With road traffic rules this is doubly important, given that we live in a city with higher than average car usage rates. I would therefore urge the Government to ensure that its public awareness campaign to follow the introduction of the amendments to this Act is broad both in scope and in approach, to ensure that all drivers - young, old and occasional - understand how the law now affects them.
The provisions relating to radar detecting devices at first glance, I felt, were onerous, given that they convey a right of seizure of a person's property. However, I appreciate that this legislative change brings us into line with New South Wales and other States and does provide a real discouragement to people who would try to escape detection by police using radar traps. The idea that the rules of the road can be disobeyed if you have the right equipment or can escape detection is, I believe, rightly to be condemned. Speeding motorists still often feel that they are committing an offence only if they are caught and do not appear to heed police warnings about the dangers of speeding to drivers, their passengers and other people.
There is merit in the idea of approaching driver training in the same manner that we approach the learning of other life skills. Teach them early and teach them well. Before drivers get behind steering wheels their attitudes should be shaped by traffic awareness and stress management strategies, to ensure that their impatience and frustration with traffic conditions and road rules do not lead them into unnecessary and thoughtless mistakes which can have tragic consequences.
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