Eyes on dodgy drivers
RISKY drivers who speed, use their mobile phone while behind the wheel and fail to wear a seatbelt are firmly in the sights of the state government, which wants to roll out new technology to catch them redhanded.
The Department of State Growth has tendered for an operator for an automated traffic offence enforcement program that would initially focus on detecting speedsters.
But the potential use of the cameras in future to detect mobile phone use and other offences has been flagged, in what could become a significant road safety tool.
On average, 32 fatalities and 270 serious injuries occur on Tasmanian roads each year, while the state’s rate of road fatalities is higher than the national average.
Speed is a factor in a third of the state’s serious casualty crashes and Infrastructure and Transport Minister Michael Ferguson said rolling out the latest technology would make the roads safer.
“This is where we need to go. In the 1980s or ’90s, when speed cameras came in, obviously that was a detectable offence with the technology that was available at the time, and it saved lives,’’ he said.
“I’m very committed, as is the RACT and the Road Safety Advisory Council, on getting better enforcement of the road rules on our roads.”
There are 10 fixed speed cameras statewide, located primarily on high-speed roads, but no other technology types are in use. Tasmania Police previously operated a fleet of mobile speed cameras that were rotated between more than 1000 sites statewide, but their use ended in 2015.
Earlier this year, the RACT said fines from motorists busted by speed cameras should be used to fund the latest technology to detect mobile phone use behind the wheel.
RACT chief advocacy officer Garry Bailey said a survey showed more than 80 per cent of 5000 Tasmanian members supported using the new speed camera technology.
“The support is because of the technology that detects mobile phone use and the support is because every driver is horrified when they see another driver using a mobile phone behind the wheel, because the overwhelming majority of drivers know that just a few seconds of distraction could mean death or serious injury,” Mr Bailey said.
The cameras operate in NSW and Queensland, Victoria and South Australia are considering using them.
Tasmania could follow suit, according to Mr Ferguson, saying the state would legislate to allow them to be used.
“I have to emphasise, most people are doing the right thing, nearly all the time,’’ the minister said.
“But some people are doing the wrong thing. Seatbelts, red light running, exceeding the speed limit, using the mobile phone. The data is very clear, they are causing people to lose their lives, if not leave them in significant disability.
“We’ve deliberately written the tender so that it can allow the technology community to tell us what they can offer, potentially for a range of offences, not just speed.”