Drivers lashed over jump in crash stats

NEW figures showing a spike in the number of statewide crashes when schools resumed last month mean too many motorists are driving badly, Tasmania’s road safety chief says.

RACT Insurance chief executive Trent Sayers said the number of insurance claims linked to motor vehicle crashes jumped from an average of 13 a day for February to 25 on February 7 this year — the first day of school for most Tasmanian children.

Road Safety Advisory Council chairman Garry Bailey said the crash figures showed too many Tasmanian drivers were behaving badly on a day when thousands of child- ren were on their way to school. Mr Bailey said a “minute or two saved on a journey” was a poor substitute for compromised road safety.

“Tasmanians, when behind the wheel, need to exercise greater care, patience and consideration for others,’’ he said.

“They need to drive to the conditions when roads are crowded ... slowing down, plan- ning your trip, putting more space between you and the car in front, allowing traffic to merge, turning off the phone.

“That applies even more when the roads are crowded, as they are on the first day of the school term.

“Do Tasmanians believe death or injury is the price worth paying to get from A to B a little faster? Of course not. But that’s exactly what this poor behaviour means.

“This astounding jump provides statistical insight into Hobart’s recent traffic woes, which have been compounded by the surge in peak-hour traffic accompanying the first few weeks of the school year.”

Mr Sayers said the problem was underlined by crash rate records for all back-to-school days in the past five years, which revealed a 29 per cent claims jump in 2013, 26 per cent in 2014, 12 per cent in 2015, 22 per cent in 2016 and 22 per cent last year.

The records only refer to claims lodged with RACT Insurance, which has about 30 per cent of the local market.

He said the role of traffic police was important on such days, but the only sure remedy would be for motorists to show more patience and care.

“To slow down and drive to the conditions … to not be angered or frustrated,” he said

“Motorists need to remember to slow down again at school zones.”

The Department of State Growth was contacted for comment.