- The appalling road carnage must be addressed
- A Road Safety Round Table should be convened
- This is above politics – and it is essential
The tragic loss of life this year on Tasmanian roads must be comprehensively addressed.
The road toll has already exceeded the number of lives lost last year, and we are only just half way through 2009.
In the interests of achieving a real bipartisan approach, and including all points of view, I believe what we need to do is establish a Road Safety Round Table, involving all sides of politics, the police and emergency services, the RACT, local government and other interested groups.
It is essential that a concerted attack on the causes of road deaths and injuries is mounted.
A Road Safety Round Table is the place to start.
It needs to consider serious measures to tackle this appalling road carnage which affects so many Tasmanians directly and indirectly. The Round Table could consider, among other things, penalties, road conditions, the importance of divided major highways, driver education and training.
There must be an approach which is a blend of sanctions against bad driving behaviour and incentives for responsible drivers.
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And a statement from Jeremy Rockliff:
Jeremy Rockliff MP
Shadow Minister for Infrastructure
Friday 10 July, 2009
Tasmania’s major highway must be a divided road
- Tasmania’s 2009 road toll already devastating
- A multi-pronged approach needed to address this carnage
- Making Midland Highway four-lanes is unarguable
Yesterday’s three tragic fatal accidents add to a sobering parade of death and injury this year.
48 Tasmanians have already lost their lives this year – already more than in all of 2008 – and many more have been injured.
There is no single cause of road crashes and the road toll.
Speed is a factor. So are inattention, drink-driving and lack of driver experience.
In winter, you have to add to that the more perilous road conditions, with black ice and water on the road.
Much of the Bass Highway has been gradually duplicated into a four-lane divided highway over the last 20 years, with support from both sides of politics – state and federal.
It is now totally logical that that duplication be extended to include the Midland Highway, also part of the national highway network.
There can be arguments about the methodology, but it is surely time for arguments about the actual merits of a dual Midland Highway to be set aside.
This is a national highway with forecasts of large increases in freight and vehicle traffic over the next two decades.
