Having successfully campaigned to get the Community Road Safety Fund established in NSW in 2012, the NRMA is now calling on the policy to be replicated by whoever wins this weekend’s ACT election.
An NRMA survey of 800 members in the ACT found 82% supported all speed and red-light camera revenue being invested toward at least four road safety mechanisms.
In 2018/19, the ACT Government collected approximately $30 million in revenue from traffic fines.
The NRMA reported their research showed the public want that revenue earmarked for: upgrading roads to be safer (48%); mobile phone detection cameras (45%); road safety education programs in schools (40%); and road safety education programs targeting the general public (31%) .
NRMA spokesperson Peter Khoury said the Community Road Safety Fund had proven a success in NSW and was one of several initiatives the NRMA would be pushing throughout the ACT election campaign.
“Directing all traffic fine revenue into road safety is an effective way to highlight that enforcement cameras are there to save lives and not raise revenue – it has worked in NSW and the NRMA wants a similar policy introduced in the ACT,” Mr Khoury said.
They have also called on the next ACT Government to: introduce real-time fuel pricing; commit funding to support local roads and transport infrastructure; develop a new ACT tourism strategy; and invest further in public charging stations for electric vehicles.
A Canberra Liberals spokesperson said if they win the election, they will put traffic infringement revenue towards road projects and road safety initiatives.
“We will look to implement a model similar to New South Wales’ recently established Community Road Safety Fund,” they said.
“We will explore introducing programs like driver mentoring to support young drivers on our roads and other mechanisms that increase road safety.”
Canberra Daily has also contacted ACT Labor for comment.
