ROAD TRAFFIC (EMERGENCY VEHICLES) AMENDMENT BILL

Second Reading

Adjourned debate on second reading.

(Continued from 20 March 2013.)

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (17:55): The government intends to support the amended bill. Indeed, during the 2010 election the government announced a proposal similar to the one we discussed today so as to ensure that when passing emergency services vehicles attending a call, other vehicles would reduce their speeds from 40 to 25 km/h.

Underpinning this approach was advice from the University of Adelaide Centre for Automotive Safety Research which showed that, while the risk of fatal injury to a pedestrian by a passing vehicle at 25 km/h is 0.95 per cent, the risk rises to 3.56 per cent if the vehicle is travelling at 40 km/h. We would agree that is a significant difference.

The government encountered considerable support as to the general tenor of the provisions from other key stakeholders, including the SES, the United Firefighters Union, the Ambulance association, the SES Volunteers' Association and the CFS volunteers, but acknowledged SAPOL's responsible reservations regarding their enforcement.

Given the need for all agencies involved to have access to an appropriate forum for comment on the matter, the establishment of a select committee was agreed. The government agrees with the select committee that the research data provides a compelling argument for a preventative approach to road safety for emergency service workers; however, there still remains some concern on our part about the proposed penalties in the revised bill.

Consequently, I take this opportunity to express our appreciation for the member for Stuart's willingness to accept the government's suggestion that penalties should align with those applied to general speeding. I want to thank all members for their outstanding work on the select committee. Their bipartisan approach to road safety has been much appreciated and the spirit of all concerned in working through these issues in the interests of enhanced road safety demonstrates a shared willingness to deliver good results for all emergency services and the community generally. I commend the bill.

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (17:57): I would like to thank the Hon. Russell Wortley for his well considered words and indication of support from the government for this really quite sensible bill. I have had a number of discussions with other crossbench members and I have been pleased to see that there does not seem to be any concerns at this particular point. With that, I commend the speedy passage of the bill.

Bill read a second time.

Committee Stage

Bill taken through committee without amendment.

Third Reading

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (17:59): I move:

That this bill be now read a third time.

Bill read a third time and passed.