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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-04-08 Daily Xml
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DRIVER FATIGUE

Mr KENYON (Newland) (15:18): My question is to the Minister for Road Safety. What is the government doing to remind drivers about the dangers of fatigue?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Road Safety, Minister for Gambling, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers, Minister Assisting the Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (15:18): I thank the honourable member for his question and I know he has a keen concern in keeping South Australians safe this Easter. Many South Australians will be packing up their cars in order to enjoy the four day break. Driver fatigue is a significant contributor to death and injuries on our roads each year. Fatigue is a factor in approximately 30 per cent of fatal crashes and up to 15 per cent of serious injuries. Being tired seems harmless but it can be deadly, yet fatigue is unique, as it is not a measurable offence. As a result, the community relies on drivers to self-monitor and drive responsibly.

Research indicates that driving after being awake for 17 to 19 hours is equivalent to having a blood alcohol concentration of about .05. At this level, the risk of crash is double than with a blood alcohol level of zero. Driving after 24 to 27 hours of not sleeping is equivalent to driving with a BAC of around .1. At .1 the risk of a crash is seven times greater than driving with no alcohol in your blood at all.

Fatigue related crashes are also often more severe as driver reaction times are delayed, and they are often on open roads at high speeds. This is the harsh reality of driving while fatigued, and this is why the state government and the Motor Accident Commission have launched what is a very timely fatigue campaign.

The campaign, which will feature in print, radio, billboards and on buses in both metropolitan and regional areas for the next four weeks, will focus on preventing the onset of fatigued driving. I am very worried about our regional colleagues who drive home on the weekends.

I would like to highlight this very important road safety initiative while making another point very clear. The Rann government's approach to road safety does not include a $25 million drag racing stadium, as suggested by the opposition. For the government to support a plan such as that as part of a road safety strategy sends the wrong message to young people. The Rann government wants to change the attitudes and behaviour of reckless drivers, not encourage them to practise the full lethal power of their cars.

Officially sanctioned hoon driving is not the cure-all for the reckless behaviour on our roads that has recently claimed so many young lives. It has been a horror start to the road toll in 2009 so far, but over the last five years South Australia has achieved the highest annual decrease in the road toll compared to other states. Slowly but surely, what we are doing is making a difference. It is a long battle to change long-held attitudes and behaviours and, clearly, there is a long way to go.

Anecdotal evidence from interstate and advice from road safety experts within the government, strongly indicates to me that officially sanctioned drag racing would not stop road crashes and may, in fact, encourage bad behaviour among some drivers. A stadium seems to be the opposition's answer to all the ills of the world. Youth hunger, youth poverty: build a stadium. We are constantly hearing from them that if we just had a stadium it would end our road safety problem. Well, that is not the answer.

Members opposite might be interested to know about the views on harm minimisation by their shadow spokesperson in the upper house, Mr Stephen Wade. He espoused his views on ABC Radio. I wish the member for Stuart was here because I know he would be equally impressed with Mr Wade's description of road safety. This is what he said on ABC 891 on 30 March:

The minister's—

that is me—

tough talk on this reminds me of the attitude—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: You will like this. Wait for this. It continues:

to harm minimisation that we get in relation to condoms and needle exchanges. You need to have harm minimisation strategies not just say 'speed is bad'.

So, I look forward to the opposition's policy of needle exchanges in suburban streets and condom vending machines in our schools.

Aside from this being a curious departure from the Liberals' usual attacks on harm minimisation strategies, which surely gave some of his colleagues palpitations, this comment is yet another sign that the spokesperson, Mr Wade, has missed the point. Speed kills and driving recklessly kills.

Unfortunately, this is the message that some drivers still do not understand, and they need to. There is little room for harm minimisation, like drag racing stadiums, because once you are dead, you are dead. Once you kill somebody on our roads, it is game over. There is no minimising that harm. I would take this opportunity to wish everyone safe travelling over the Easter long weekend. Please take note of our campaign. Pull over every two hours. Stay awake, stay safe.

Mr Kenyon interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: I do not need another box, I am nearly finished. Last year the state recorded one fatality over the Easter long weekend. We are aiming for zero fatalities and zero serious crashes. Police will be out in force this weekend. We hope everyone enjoys their Easter long weekend.

Honourable members: Hear, hear!

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