Transport Minister Darren Chester announces inquiry into mobile phone and driver drug use
HOW much are mobile phones and drug use contributing to increasing road fatalities? The government is determined to find out.
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EXCLUSIVE
DRIVERS using their mobile phone or operating a vehicle under the influence of drugs will be the target of a new federal inquiry that could see harsher fines or even disabling devices installed in every new vehicle.
Transport Minister Darren Chester will on Monday unveil two separate inquiries aimed at giving a clearer picture of why road fatalities continue to climb.
The inquiries will cost a total of $133,000 and those running the inquiries will be required to report back by November.
The money will be included as part of Tuesday’s Federal Budget.
Mr Chester told News Corp the state of road deaths was a national emergency and required significant resources to stem the tide.
He said the decision to conduct the inquiries came after extensive consultation with state ministers and senior police throughout Australia.
Mr Chester described the levels of road trauma as a “public health crisis which demands urgent action”.
“After decades of reductions in road trauma, the recent spike in deaths and serious injuries is a major concern and we need to develop a national approach to tackling this issue,” Mr Chester said.
“There is significant anecdotal evidence that mobile phone distraction is contributing to crashes leading to serious injuries and deaths, but we need to undertake more research to provide a better evidence base for further policy making.
“Similarly, police are reporting an increased use of illicit drugs which is contributing to deaths and serious injuries throughout Australia.”
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The two inquiries announced will look at the prevalence of mobile phone use, technology to stop drivers from using nomadic devices in their vehicle and the development of a more effective roadside drug test.
Harsher penalties will also be considered.
Road deaths have been steadily increasing since 2012 after more than 20-years of downward statistics.
The latest figures in March showed 1240 Australians died on our roads since March 2016.
Driver distraction, including mobile phone use, is thought to contribute to approximately 1 in 4 car crashes.
In 2012 the NRMA conducted a study of 415 drivers about their use of mobile phones while driving.
It found 88 per cent made phone calls; 68 per cent texted and read emails; 40 per cent used applications — checking the weather forecast, news headlines; 38 per cent took photos; and 25 per cent updated their Facebook status or tweeted.
On drugs, a 10-year evaluation of road crashes estimated that 1 in 4 drivers killed had tested positive to drugs other than alcohol.
Drug driving is a contributing factor in approximately 10 to 30 per cent of road fatalities with police and road experts estimating that figure to be on the increase.
Road fatalities cost taxpayers around $30 billion a year.
The Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety — Queensland (CARRS-Q) will conduct the national research into mobile phone and drug use.
CARRS-Q director Narelle Haworth said the research was vitally important to give a clearer picture of what was causing an increase in the road fatalities when many of our road infrastructure had been safer than ever before.
“I definitely think we need to put more effort into finding out what that is causing the recent spike,” Professor Haworth said.
“I commend the government for commissioning these inquiries. These are the things the Australian community has to be thinking about.”
Australian Automobile Association chief executive Michael Bradley said he looked forward to playing an active role in the inquiries.
“The inquiry announced represents a critical first step in turning around our rising road toll and the AAA hopes its findings — and timely action on any recommendations — will make a real difference to the lives of thousands of Australians,” Mr Bradley said.
lanai.scarr@news.com.au
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