The NSW Government’s new Road Safety Plan addresses speeding, drink and drug driving, driver distraction, driver fatigue, truck safety and safety on country roads.
Some of the measures in the Road Safety Plan include:
- expanding the mandatory alcohol interlock program, so mid-range drink drivers must provide a negative breath testing sample before a car will start
- giving police the power to issue on-the-spot fines and licence suspensions for low-range drink driving
- changing laws so camera technology can be used to enforce mobile phone offences
- increasing the number of heavy vehicle average speed camera locations, including in metropolitan Sydney.
A new Saving Lives on Country Roads program will fund safety barriers, tactile line markings, wide centre line and safety upgrades of high risk curves.
In the short term, the government will launch a review into driving on prescription drugs by April 2018 and the NSW Sentencing Council will report on sentencing of repeat traffic offenders who may pose an ongoing risk to the community.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the Road Safety Plan is a concerted effort to save lives by making sure roads and vehicles are as safe as possible.
“Every 41 minutes in NSW someone is either killed or seriously injured on our roads, leaving families and friends with the heartache,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“This plan makes it clear if you break the law you will be caught and will pay the price.”
The plan joins other government road safety programs, including the Safer Roads infrastructure program, safety around schools and mandatory road safety education for every child in NSW.