Ministerial Statement

SPEEDING OFFENCE PENALTIES

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE (Wright—Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (14:12): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: Today the Weatherill government announced it is changing the structure of speeding offence penalties from 1 September 2012. The new structure introduces 10 km/h brackets for speeding up to 30 km/h over the limit, creating an extra offence bracket to better reflect the relationship between increasing speed and crash risk. Drivers caught exceeding the limit by less than 10 km/h will now incur two demerit points instead of one. However, the expiation fee has been reduced from $260 to $150, a reduction of $110.

To ensure the safety message is reinforced, demerit points for speeding offences will also increase by one to two points, out of a possible 12—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Bragg, order!

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: —every three years on a full licence.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Members on my left, order!

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: Adding an extra demerit point to the penalty means repeat speeders will lose their licence sooner, for which we make no apology. Drivers speeding more than 10 km/h but less than 20 km/h will lose three demerit points and pay a fine of $330. This increases to five demerit points if caught going faster than 20 km/h but less than 30 km/h, and a fine of $670. Seven demerit points will be lost and an $800 fine will apply for travelling 30 km/h but less than 45 km/h over the speed limit. Drivers caught going faster than 45 km/h, which is classed as excessive speed, will lose nine points and pay a $900 fine.

The new 10 km/h bracket better reflects the link between increasing travel speed and increasing crash risk. Crash risk doubles with each 5 km/h increase in speed on a 60 km/h road, or each 10 km/h increase on a 110 km/h road. Increments of 10 km/h also more closely align with established speed zones and are more likely to influence driver behaviour.

It is up to motorists how much these reforms generate, but I am told the monetary amount of fines collected is not expected to increase. In 2011, 224,739 expiation notices were issued for speeding. Four years ago this was 54,000 a year higher (more than 1,000 a week), which is encouraging that the message is gradually getting through. With the exception—

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: —of the $60 victims of crime levy, all funds collected will continue to be spent on road safety projects through the Community Road Safety Fund. This has been in place since July 2003 and has returned over $602 million to lifesaving projects such as infrastructure upgrades and education programs. The higher expiation fees for speeding road trains recognises that the crash risk is even higher when these heavy vehicles speed. These will range from $400 to $1,000. A public awareness—

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: Wouldn't it be nice to have a minute's silence one day, Madam Speaker?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: A minute's silence from the member for Bragg in question time would be a great thing. A public awareness campaign will be undertaken to advise drivers of the new penalties.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: Don't make too high a bar. Speed is a critical factor in every—

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Bragg, order!

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: Speed is a critical factor in every serious crash. Speeding was identified as a contributing factor in an estimated 36 per cent of fatal crashes in the last three years. Road trauma costs our community over $1 billion a year; however, the human loss and heartache caused by fatalities and serious injuries is immeasurable.