Page 3413 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 22 August 2018
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I thank members for the opportunity to discuss this today, I am aware that members have strong views on this. We will be seeking to find a way through this that is a really good package that promotes road safety but produces a practical outcome.
I am happy to report back to the Assembly. I do not have an exact time line on it yet. The directorate is still working through the community feedback we received, and I have not received a full analysis of that yet. I am working on the details, and I look forward to sharing that with members of the Assembly over the coming months as we work through it. I move the amendment I circulated in my name:
Omit all text after “That this Assembly”, substitute:
“(1) notes that:
(a) the ACT Government is committed to the ‘Vision Zero’ road safety philosophy; that is, realising zero deaths and serious injuries on our roads;
(b) the probability of being involved in a motor vehicle accident is highest during the first months after provisional licensing. In the ACT, provisional drivers represent 6.5 percent of all active car licence holders and account for 14.3 percent of drivers involved in fatal accidents. Late night hours are identified as a high risk time for drivers aged between 17 and 24;
(c) in line with ‘Vision Zero’, and with best practice safety recommendations from Austroads, the ACT Government is considering a broad package of road safety reforms for young people;
(d) the proposed reforms align with the top level model within the Australian Graduated Licensing Scheme Policy Framework, endorsed by the Transport and Infrastructure Council, and designed to encourage and guide improvements in graduating licensing schemes for all states and territories;
(e) the ACT Government has undertaken extensive consultation on the proposals. Consultation opened in April this year, with over 4500 responses to the consultation from the community and stakeholders. This feedback will inform future decisions on graduated licensing reform. The Government expects to make implementation decisions early in 2019;
(f) young Canberrans commute to and from places of employment late in the evening and early in the morning, particularly those who are shiftworkers and those employed in the hospitality and trades industries;
(g) the ACT Government recognises that there are few other safe transport options available at these times of day, and will ensure that road safety reforms don’t prevent P-plate drivers from working; and
(h) the ‘What We Heard’ survey reported that 50 percent of respondents either disagreed or strongly disagreed with restrictions on first year P platers from driving between midnight and 5 am. 40 percent agreed or strongly agreed;
(2) calls on all Members to support the ‘Vision Zero’ approach to road safety, and to consider implementing evidence-based road safety improvements for young drivers; and
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