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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-11-29 Daily Xml
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VICTOR HARBOR ROAD

Mr BIGNELL (Mawson) (14:58): My question is to the Minister for Road Safety. Can the minister inform the house about the new road safety measures on the Victor Harbor Road?

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) (14:58): I thank the member for Mawson for his question and his ongoing efforts to improve road safety in his electorate. I am pleased to advise the house that, with the many drivers who will use the Victor Harbor Road this Christmas, they will benefit from a range of road safety works that have recently been undertaken; most notably, the centreline barriers that stop vehicles from crossing onto the wrong side of the road.

Since 2002 there have been many lifesaving improvements to this road, with the creation of overtaking lanes and the sealing of road shoulders. A multimillion dollar improvement project was also undertaken at the Victor Harbor-South Road junction, and the people of McLaren Vale are very excited that since last Friday they have been driving over the new bridge over the Victor Harbor Road. The bridge is part of the $18 million McLaren Vale overpass, which will be completed early next year, fixing the deadly and dangerous intersection of Main Road and Victor Harbor Road.

As members know, head-on crashes are the most severe and often result in serious death or injury. The state government has invested $2 million in the barriers at Willunga Hill to prevent cars and trucks from crossing into oncoming traffic. I am advised that the barriers can reduce the chance of a crash by as much as 90 per cent. As well as the wire rope barrier installation, audio tactile line markings have been installed and roadside vegetation has been cleared.

Tragically, it is easy to make a simple error in judgement and lose control of a vehicle. The last fortnight on the state's roads is a sobering reminder of exactly that. Over a period of 10 days we have suffered eight deaths on our roads. We all know that the statistics can sometimes lose their impact, but I would like to remind the house that this is eight fathers, brothers or sons who will not be home for Christmas this year.

The vast bulk of fatalities and serious injuries happen to everyday people going about their normal lives. It takes just one moment of inattention and lives can change forever. This year's road toll is considerably lower than last year's—86 currently compared to 96 at the same time last year, but the events of the last two weeks demonstrate how quickly this can change.

The Victor Harbor Road has been fatality free since September 2009, and it is improvements like this which are helping to keep it this way. This government ensures that every dollar from speeding fines is reinvested back into the community via the Community Road Safety Fund, which was established by this government in 2003. The sole focus of the fund is to reduce fatalities and serious injuries on our roads.

More than $600 million has been paid into the fund, which has in turn been invested into blackspot improvements, new cycling lanes, shoulder sealing, vegetation clearing, education and enforcement programs. The results are reflected in the road toll. For the 2011-12 financial year South Australia experienced a 20.7 per cent reduction in the toll. The next best reduction from any state or territory was 6.6 per cent in Western Australia.

This Labor government is committed to road safety and reducing tragedies associated with road trauma. In monetary terms it costs our community about $1.2 billion a year, but the grief from the loss of a loved one is immeasurable. Every time you get behind the wheel you have responsibility for your life and the lives of your loved ones and other road users.

Please, this Christmas, I urge all drivers to be careful as they travel to and from their celebrations. Remember the fatal five: inattention, fatigue, driving under the influence, failure to wear a seatbelt and speed. They all kill. Always err on the side of caution and do not become a statistic.

The SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired, but we thank you for that message. Member for Bragg, I thank you for your restraint during that answer; it was most unusual.

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