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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 7 Hansard (28 June) . . Page.. 2138 ..
MR SMYTH
: Mr Speaker, I thank Mr Hird for his question, which is about an important issue. It is curious how many preambles and convoluted questions we get from members of the opposition. I used to worry about their future after politics. Obviously, some of the members opposite will go on to be great authors, writing bodice-ripping novels and having simple questions girt by lots of fairy-floss that means absolutely nothing, because it matches their press releases, Mr Speaker.MR SPEAKER
: Address me, please, minister, not the gallery.MR SMYTH
: Mr Speaker, ARRB Transport Research, a leading independent national consultancy group, is overseeing the effectiveness of speed cameras in the ACT. The results of its six-month progress report are quite extraordinary and great news for those concerned about road safety, particularly the potential drivers here of the year 10 class from girls grammar. The report illustrates quite clearly that the cameras are changing the dangerous driving habits of leadfoots. This study is being funded by the NRMA road safety trust, and I would thank the trust for that funding.What has the report shown? It has shown significant speed reductions by Canberra drivers. Since the introduction of speed cameras in October last year, there has been a 26 per cent decrease in the proportion of vehicles exceeding the posted speed limit at the speed camera sites-26 per cent. Importantly, the report also found that there has been a reduction of 15 per cent in the number of motorists speeding on roads where speed cameras were not used.
Mr Speaker, across Canberra before the introduction of speed cameras, the proportion of vehicles speeding was about 38.5 per cent. The figure overall has dropped by 10 per cent. You would have to say that that is a staggering turnaround in such a short time. There has also been a dramatic fall in the number of motorists speeding by more than 10 per cent in the speed camera zones. For the information of the girls grammar students, the three big killers on the road are speed, fatigue and alcohol.
Mr Corbell
: I take a point of order, Mr Speaker. The minister may like to flirt, but he really does have to address his comments to you.MR SPEAKER
: I uphold the point of order and I would remind the minister that Mr Hird asked the question, through me.MR SMYTH
: Mr Speaker, I thank you for upholding that point of order. It is important, though, that the members of the gallery understand that as well.MR SPEAKER
: No!MR SMYTH
: Mr Speaker, there has also been a dramatic decrease in the number of motorists speeding by more than 10 per cent. We have seen a 63 per cent decrease in this number, and that is particularly pleasing. While all forms of speeding can kill, obviously those drivers who exceed the limit by a significant degree place the community at even greater risk.
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