RACT suggests more road cameras as a way to fix state’s shockingly high road toll

A surge in the number of speed cameras across the state has been suggested as a way to slash Tasmania’s road toll, which is the worst in the nation.

• RACT says road toll represents a policy failure
• Selfish reasons why motorists put others at risk

A BIG increase in the number of speed cameras might be what is needed to address Tasmania’s appalling safety record, the RACT says.

Tasmanian drivers are twice as likely to die on the roads as Victorians and the Legislative Council this week announced an inquiry into how to reduce the carnage.

Launceston MLC Rosemary Armitage said the inquiry would be wide-ranging and open to any suggestions that might make a difference.

“In 2020 – a year in which we had Covid – when you would think there would be less cars on our roads, 36 people died and 293 were seriously injured,” she told parliament.

“On average between 2011 and 2020, 32 people died and 269 were seriously injured each year on our roads.

“Tasmania has the worst road safety record of any state.

“With 6.6 deaths per 100,000 population, this is far higher than the best-performing state Victoria, which has 3.17 deaths per 100,000. If we can match Victoria, we could save 19 lives a year.”

Launceston MLC Rosemary Armitage.

Leader of Government Business in the Upper House Leonie Hiscutt said the government was committed to improving road safety.

RACT group chief executive Mark Mugnaioni told the Mercury the motoring organisation was keen to play a role in helping the inquiry find solutions.

“The end of last year saw us finish the previous 10-year national road safety strategy,” he said.

“The objective was to reduce the road toll by 30 per cent across the nation.

“We collectively failed, we increased the toll, particularly in Tasmania, where we have the worst road toll, per capita, in the country.

“We have to look at this with fresh eyes. It’s not good enough to keep doing what we’re doing and expect a different result.”

More speed cameras may be one way to deter drivers from speeding and help reduce the state’s road toll, the RACT has suggested. Picture: Brendan Radke

Mr Mugnaioni said rolling out more enforcement cameras to detect both speeding and distracted driving might be part of the solution.

“You see more and more people on the roads with their phone in their hands driving around,” he said.

“Distraction is going to be the new speed. I wouldn’t be surprised if in the next few years it takes over from speed as the number one killer on our roads.

“Norway has about 2000 enforcement cameras across the country.

“They capture not just speed, but also distracted driving and it’s having a really big effect on driver behaviour.

“With the new enforcement technology that’s available we’d be able to catch both of those and it would make a huge difference.”

RACT CEO Mark Mugnaioni.

He said there was no single answer to road safety, but with improvements in road infrastructure and vehicle safety, improving driver behaviour was the major opportunity to improving outcomes.

He said improving training for learner drivers and considering retesting drivers every decade or so were also suggestions worth considering.

“Everyone thinks they’re a good driver, but we know the single most dangerous thing in the vehicle is the driver and we need to address that.

“We’re asking for a genuine commitment to open-mindedness in this space. We’re going to have to be open to things we haven’t yet considered.”

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