6/2/08 Passenger Restrictions- Road Safety Strategy - Arrive Alive 2008 - 2017

[daniel_rossy]

not going to like this..

The Premier John Brumby today unveiled a range of new road safety initiatives to drive down the road toll, including tougher drink driving laws, more driver education, passenger restrictions for P-plate drivers and mandatory car safety technology.



Mr Brumby said the new initiatives were the cornerstone of the Victorian Government’s arrive alive 2008-2017 road safety strategy which aimed to achieve a 30 per cent reduction in the road toll.

Launching the strategy today, Mr Brumby said the Victorian Government was committed to key road safety targets to be achieved by the end of 2017:

A 30 per cent reduction in the road toll;
A 30 per cent reduction in the number of serious injuries; and
Reducing the severity of serious injuries

The new strategy follows on from the success of Victoria’s first arrive alive! which prevented around 580 deaths over the five years to 2007, compared to the road toll in 2001.

“Victoria has made great gains in road safety and is at the forefront of road safety innovation,” Mr Brumby said.

“Every family touched by tragedy on our roads is one family too many, so we must always strive for new and innovative ways to reduce the road toll.”

Mr Brumby said the new key road safety strategies in arrive alive 2008-2017 included:

A tough new focus on drink driving with drivers who record a blood alcohol level of 0.10 immediately taken off the road, rather than waiting until they go to court;
A new program to give drivers the chance to redeem demerit points by undertaking a comprehensive road safety program;
Introducing a peer passenger restriction on first-year probationary drivers.
From 1 July, P-platers will no longer be able to carry more than one peer passenger (aged between 16 and 21) for the first year of their licence at all hours;

Mandating the instalment of Electronic Stability Control (ESC) in all new cars built after 31 December 2010 (in the absence of an equivalent national requirement);
Mandating the instalment of head protection technology, such as side-curtain airbags in all new cars built after 31 December by 2011 (in the absence of an equivalent national requirement);
Showing leadership by introducing ESC and head protection technology to the Government fleet over the next three years, thereby giving manufacturers an incentive to deploy ESC to all cars;
Increased funding to the Safer Roads Improvements Program, with $230 million over three years, which includes $16 million over two years for the greyspot program to upgrade locations identified as potential crash sites.

Mr Brumby said that the community had been talking about P-plate restrictions for some time and that the Government had listened to their concerns and acted.

“The Government has been persuaded by the proposal put forward by the RACV. The passenger restrictions will apply to first-year P-plate drivers and only to peer passengers aged between 16 and 21,” he said.

“Research has shown the fatal crash risk for P-plate drivers increases by four times when they carry two or more passengers.”

“The restrictions will not apply when drivers are using the car for essential activities and drivers can apply to VicRoads for exemptions for exceptional circumstances.

Mr Brumby said new car safety technology would drive the next phase of reducing fatalities.

“Victoria has a proud track record of leading the nation in road safety, with the introduction of seatbelts, the roll out of drink driving technology and random drug testing,” he said.

“And we’re doing the same with this new life saving technology. From 2011 all new cars will have electronic stability control. From 2012 all new cars will have head technology.

“And I will write to all State and Territory Premiers and the Prime Minister, calling for a national mandate of this technology in the interest of saving lives.”

Minister for Roads and Ports, Tim Pallas said that the Government had undertaken extensive research and planning to develop its road safety strategy, consulting road safety experts and monitoring the success of strategies in other states.

"Due to planning and research, we have been able to improve safety on our transport system and become an internationally recognised leader in road safety,” Mr Pallas said.

“In the past five years we’ve had the five lowest road tolls in our history, reducing fatalities by almost 20 per cent, and overseeing an 11 per cent reduction in people admitted to hospital for more than one day.”

Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Bob Cameron called on all Victorians to make safety the highest priority when on the roads.

“Victoria’s leadership has proved that a planned and targeted road safety strategy delivers results, but it is up to all of us to share the roads safely and responsibly,” Mr Cameron said.

“The Victorian Government recognises that road safety is a shared community responsibility and I urge all Victorians to get behind the arrive alive 2008-2017 strategy and work together to reduce the senseless and unnecessary deaths and injuries on our roads.”

Go to the new arrive alive website for more information.

http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/...afetyStrategy/

[Allen]

I can see this passenger restriction being one of those laws that is rarely enforced and constantly broken.

The only time I could imagen the police enforcing it, is when you get carloads of morons at hotspots like Chapel St... (I'm sure you all know the type of demographic I'm refering too there...)

I would hope that p-platers with a genuine reason for having more than 1 adolencent passenger (such as car pooling, or taking youger siblings places) would get the blind eye treatment.

Eg, Cruising to the Geelong AFD this year, i'll have my Missus and her 16 year old younger brother... I can only hope police would use common sense when enforcing this rule... :(

[daniel_rossy]

And just to make it clear this isnt for ALL p platers, its only for P1 P Platers. Which is being introduced after July 1, 2008.

[Nikked]

sometime i wonder what goes on with our governements...

[Keepleft]

CREDIT WHERE IT IS DUE

VIC Premier, Hon Mr Brumby was on that odd media 'television' today, announcing a range of new initiatives that will please many here. Take the link to read the full media release. This concerns VIC P platers too.

I remind folk here that WA 'went it alone' a few years ago, and created a unique state-based regulation that mandated 'Engine Immobilisers' on new market vehicles - that were to be registered in that jurisdiction. That action caught the FEDS off guard you might recall, forcing them to play catch-up which resulted in our delightful ADR82!

I 'know' NSW studies this VIC notification carefully, and *will* action a few 'extras' of its own. Note the BOLD.

Mandating the instalment of Electronic Stability Control (ESC) in all new cars built after 31 December 2010 (in the absence of an equivalent national requirement);

Mandating the instalment of head protection technology, such as side-curtain airbags in all new cars built after 31 December by 2011 (in the absence of an equivalent national requirement);

Showing leadership by introducing ESC and head protection technology to the Government fleet over the next three years, thereby giving manufacturers an incentive to deploy ESC to all cars;

“Victoria has a proud track record of leading the nation in road safety, with the introduction of seatbelts, the roll out of drink driving technology and random drug testing,” he said.

“And we’re doing the same with this new life saving technology. From 2011 all new cars will have electronic stability control. From 2012 all new cars will have head technology.

“And I will write to all State and Territory Premiers and the Prime Minister, calling for a national mandate of this technology in the interest of saving lives.”

Minister for Roads and Ports, Tim Pallas said that the Government had undertaken extensive research and planning to develop its road safety strategy, consulting road safety experts and monitoring the success of strategies in other states.

LINK:-
http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/...afetyStrategy/

[Rev28K]

I hope that there is a waiver on the stability control so that small manufacturers (clubman makers like PRB, Bolwell, GT40 & Cobra replicas, etc) aren’t forced to compete with the big guys on complicated technology. Otherwise it seems like good news.

[Gazzzaa]

Rev..you took the words out of my mouth. My biggest complaint EVER with Australian drivers is their failure to adopt any sort of lane protocol. The number of turkeys who think it's their God-given right to travel in the right lane PERMANENTLY is a continual fustration to me, especially after experiencing the mores disciplined traffic flow whilst on holiday in the UK.

I've come to the conclusion that legislation is the ONLY answer as the habit of travelling in the right lane is so ingrained in Australian drivers.

[daniel_rossy]

repost:
http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=11208705

[Keepleft]

Note this item from the media release, naturally applies to VIC license holders who have incurred demerits, interesting don't you think???:-

* A new program to give drivers the chance to redeem demerit points by undertaking a comprehensive road safety program;

Keep-left issue - I posted here somewhere yesterday text relating to keeping left on motorway class roads, particularly those bearing three or more traffic lanes. I'll try soon to see if VIC will carry it in their handbook "The Road To Solo Driving" (Yuk, crap title).

DANIEL - You got me - I deal with GovCo, missed your post sorry, - got home late.

ADMINS PLEASE MERGE THE THREADS.

[RSgerry]

WA has just announced the latest and greatest installment of our fabulously dismal 'road safety strategy'. This is teh same strategy that has seen the number of road deaths in WA rise two years on the trot. The latest bright idea is...increase fines. Yep, after much thought and study, they have decided to do more of what didnt work last time. Maybe they think that if they keep increasing the fines us thickhead drivers will learn sooner or later.

We have a chap here called Grant Dorrington who is the big cheese at the road safety council (an oxymoron, like military intelligence) and he has two solutions to the road toll (matches the brain cell count). Increase penalties and increase the number of speed cameras. This gets paid to pop up on the news occasionally and say "increase the fines, hit 'em harder, more speed cameras".

WA also has a 'keep left' rule. Only one problem...there are no police cars on the road so drivers can, and do, whatever the hell they like.

WA's road safety campaign can be summed up nicely...if a camera can enforce it, then they will. If a camera cant enforce it (mobile phones, keep left, courtesy) then it doesnt matter.

[new2ford]

Why the heck are car design issues being dictated by individual states and not nationally? I mean its a good thing that some state takes an initiative given that the feds are so lax on the whole subject but it shouldn't happen that way, this is a national issue. So some new cars can be sold in some states then but not others? :

[Keepleft]

Originally Posted by new2ford

Why the heck are car design issues being dictated by individual states and not nationally? I mean its a good thing that some state takes an initiative given that the feds are so lax on the whole subject but it shouldn't happen that way, this is a national issue. So some new cars can be sold in some states then but not others? :

You've highlighted why.

Australia IS a nation of sovereign states. Its an example of why you often see state Premiers troddling off overseas - to drum up business *for their state*, all done as an aside from the Commonwealth AUSTRADE.

I am pleased we are this way btw, it stops some of the more lunatic Victorian speed management practices from entering NSW, as would be the case IF it were ever to be successful in advocating such at Commonwealth level, which would feed down the chain to other jurisdictions. I am all for state rights, and I suggest state parliamentarians NOT scede further authority, well- perhaps beyond Murray water issues.

Victoria is quite within its right to do such a thing (this thread topic), as it would be for NSW to mandate say a Euro/United Nations spec warning triangle (Sig), because NO Commonwealth regulation currently exists beyond that applying to heavy vehucles, AND AS3790 is an OLD US standard which needs replacing, and so 'a state' could do just that, 'domestically'. (That will happen btw).

Now, IF NSW or VIC tried to mandate for new market vehicles, say 'rear fog lamps', THEN we 'could' have an issue in legal terms, as ADR52 and ADR13 (Part 8.5.1) exists, albiet owing ADR13 as 'optional' for now. What the jurisdictions would or could do, to prevent legal issues with the Commonwealth, would be to advocate via the national process in order to mandate rear fogs.

Mind you, because the ADR's are in effect now LEGAL INSTRUMENTS (law) you and I individually could see change as well via the Federal elected member. That said it is pointless becuase they will get 'advice' from the public service. No, better a determined state take that issue on.
http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roa...dr_online.aspx

A 'determined' state government, with balls, could even then try to mandate this as a requirement for registration in its state, and would be done with a three year lead-in time which would be reasonable.

Which in *WILL* happen btw.

[new2ford]

^^
We may be a nation of sovereign states Keepleft but some things are or should be national issues (like foreign affairs, defence and motor car design!). Where I'm coming from is that there are serious issues with primary (active) safety (and even secondary safety) in many imported motor vehicles and the feds are doing BA to control it. (cf USA where they are really onto the issue at a national level) Victoria, to its credit, has taken initiative but these vehicles are sold uniformly all over the country, not just Victoria. I don't understand the logic. And just because motor vehicle design might be handled at a national level doesn't necessarily mean that daft state speed policies will escape through this conduit to a national level. That is to do with road and traffic management (a state responsibility) not car design. But you're the expert and I'll listen to you!

[DRU842]

There is never an excuse for a State Government to be 'going it alone' on this type of issue.

[plext]

I'm sure these measures will be much more effective than thorough driver training which teaches people how to deal with issues such as a loss of traction, or building decent roads without countless immovable gum trees in the middle for people to impale themselves on.

Oh hang on, no it won't, but it's costs them nothing and grabs a nice headline doesn't it?

While it's obtuse to argue against such measures, it basically once more is window dressing without addressing the requirement to create a situation where said measures are less often called into play.

More rules are not needed. More thought and god forbid expenditure are.

[russellw]

I note that the infamous triangle still managed to get a guernsey even in a discussion on ESP, P-Plate passenger restrictions and head protection. Impressive. Perhaps it's capable of replacing all those measures?

The measures outlined for the manufacturing side were likely to happen anyway - ESP and side curtain bags have been filtering their way down the model tree and while it may mean an increase in the cost of some base model vehicles it is unlikely to be a substantial one.

That it's another band aid solution is inevitable - we'd be foolish to expect much else from those whose sole raison d'etre is to ensure that we get fleeced of as much hard earned as possible - a task that Victoria has taken to heart very well.

Cheers
Russ

[Keepleft]

Originally Posted by russellw

I note that the infamous triangle still managed to get a guernsey even in a discussion on ESP, P-Plate passenger restrictions and head protection. Impressive. Perhaps it's capable of replacing all those measures?Russ

Infamous? A device that is a life saver and insurance payout reducer, 'so accepted and proven' that it is mandatory in EU and China to 'have' and 'use' and as such now forms part of the 'future requirements' for motor vehicles in UN Road Traffic Conventions.

My inclusion of that item in this thread was to highlight that a state *can* authorise and legislate such things, in the same manner VIC signals in relation to traction control and side airbags. Other items that you will see similarly pushed are vests, with then 'recommendations' for a first aid kit and extinguisher.


new2ford Motor car design is an 'international' responsibility. Australia is harmonising its design rules with those of the UNECE as each develops. The process has been going on a number of years.

We maintain some independence in that process.