btm
5th February 2008, 09:37 AM
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23162173-2,00.html
Swap demerit points for road safety classes
IN an Australian first, drivers will be given the chance to wipe off demerit points in a radical deal expected to be offered by the Victorian Government.
Tens of thousands of drivers penalised for speeding, red light breaches and other offences could soon trade points in return for undertaking driver education.
Face-to-face meetings with trauma victims to bring home the perils of dangerous driving may be among the options.
Only motorists who have lost eight or more points would be eligible, the Herald Sun believes.
They would erase three demerit points.
The Government is studying the proposal as part of a shake-up of road safety measures aimed at cutting the road toll.
A similar scheme operates in Britain, but Victoria would be the first Australian state to adopt it.
More than 90,000 Victorians have accumulated eight or more demerit points for speeding and other offences.
Accruing 12 points leads to loss of licence.
About 30,000 drivers have accrued eight points, a similar number have nine points, 25,000 have 10 points and about 5000 have 11 points.
Under the plan, the motorists will be limited to one course every three years.
Last night, a government spokesman declined to comment on the plan, but it is believed the initiative is close to being completed.
"The Government has a proud record on bringing down the road toll," the spokesman said.
"We are considering a range of measures to take that further."
The 2007 toll was 333, one of the lowest on record. This year's toll is 30, three up on the same time last year.
The Government has previously indicated it may offer financial rewards to people who buy safe cars.
Options that have been looked at include giving rebates or cut-price registration to drivers who buy vehicles with hi-tech features such as electronic stability control and side curtain airbags.
Technology will feature strongly in the next road safety push because the Government believes there is only so far to go with laws on problems such as drink-driving and speeding.
Figures released last year revealed the number of drivers who lost their licence had more than doubled in only five years.
More than 670,000 mobile speed camera fines were issued in the year to last October, TAC figures show.
Based on a $220 fine for exceeding the limit by 10km/h-25km/h, leadfoots contributed about $147 million to government coffers.
Analysis of last year's road toll shows 159 lives were lost on Melbourne roads, up 15 on the previous year.
The number of people killed on rural roads was 174, down 10 per cent on 2006.
Swap demerit points for road safety classes
IN an Australian first, drivers will be given the chance to wipe off demerit points in a radical deal expected to be offered by the Victorian Government.
Tens of thousands of drivers penalised for speeding, red light breaches and other offences could soon trade points in return for undertaking driver education.
Face-to-face meetings with trauma victims to bring home the perils of dangerous driving may be among the options.
Only motorists who have lost eight or more points would be eligible, the Herald Sun believes.
They would erase three demerit points.
The Government is studying the proposal as part of a shake-up of road safety measures aimed at cutting the road toll.
A similar scheme operates in Britain, but Victoria would be the first Australian state to adopt it.
More than 90,000 Victorians have accumulated eight or more demerit points for speeding and other offences.
Accruing 12 points leads to loss of licence.
About 30,000 drivers have accrued eight points, a similar number have nine points, 25,000 have 10 points and about 5000 have 11 points.
Under the plan, the motorists will be limited to one course every three years.
Last night, a government spokesman declined to comment on the plan, but it is believed the initiative is close to being completed.
"The Government has a proud record on bringing down the road toll," the spokesman said.
"We are considering a range of measures to take that further."
The 2007 toll was 333, one of the lowest on record. This year's toll is 30, three up on the same time last year.
The Government has previously indicated it may offer financial rewards to people who buy safe cars.
Options that have been looked at include giving rebates or cut-price registration to drivers who buy vehicles with hi-tech features such as electronic stability control and side curtain airbags.
Technology will feature strongly in the next road safety push because the Government believes there is only so far to go with laws on problems such as drink-driving and speeding.
Figures released last year revealed the number of drivers who lost their licence had more than doubled in only five years.
More than 670,000 mobile speed camera fines were issued in the year to last October, TAC figures show.
Based on a $220 fine for exceeding the limit by 10km/h-25km/h, leadfoots contributed about $147 million to government coffers.
Analysis of last year's road toll shows 159 lives were lost on Melbourne roads, up 15 on the previous year.
The number of people killed on rural roads was 174, down 10 per cent on 2006.