Cops are tops for tackling road tol

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NRMA Issues Paper

Author: Daniel StantonDate: 15 November 2012

There is overwhelming community support for an increase in visible highway patrols - rather than more speed cameras - to tackle the state's growing road toll, according to an Issues Paper by NRMA Motoring & Services.

The NRMA Issues Paper, High Visibility Policing, included a survey of over 1,700 motorists. The survey found motorists believed drivers texting behind the wheel while they drive (77%) and drink driving (75%) were the biggest road safety issues on the state's roads. Using a mobile phone behind the wheel and drink driving can only be policed by highway patrols.

The survey also found 69 per cent of motorists believed the best way to tackle bad driver behaviour is through more visible highway patrols, with 10 per cent collectively identifying fixed, mobile and red/safety cameras.

The NRMA campaigned for a greater police presence on the state's roads in the lead-up to the 2011 NSW Election. The NRMA also successfully fought to get all revenue from fines redirected back into road safety, including the recruitment of more highway patrols.

Since 2011, the NSW Government has rolled-out an extra 50 highway patrol cars, taking the total to 520 vehicles. An additional 100 highway patrol officers are to be recruited by December this year.

The High Visibility Policing report highlighted the results of an enforcement operation conducted by Queensland Police across the outer suburbs of Brisbane. The operation involved police focusing on a much wider area than usual. It resulted in a 15 per cent reduction is fatal crashes.

If these results could be replicated across NSW it estimated that as many as 55 lives (2011 RMS road statistics) could be saved and $180 million could be saved in costs to the state's economy (NRMA Cost of Crashes Report 2012).

A similar trial by NSW Police also found that an increase in highway patrols on the roads resulted in a fall of police and emergency service response times to crashes from 18 minutes to six minutes.

NRMA President Wendy Machin said the public felt safer and drove with more caution and care when there were more police on the roads.

"Our Members consistently tell us, and the evidence consistently shows, that having more clearly marked, visible highway patrols on the roads at all times saves lives," Ms Machin said.

"The High Visibility Policing Issues Paper found 66 per cent of motorists believed getting an on-the-spot fine or a warning by a police officer had the biggest long-term impact on their driving behaviour, while only 13 per cent said cameras had the same effect.
"While fixed, mobile and red light/speed cameras have a role to play in keeping the roads safe it is clear that the community wants more police on our roads and we urge the NSW Government continue with an aggressive recruitment of more officers and more cars."

The High Visibility Policing Issues Paper also found that when there are more police about:

83% slow down
60% are more conscious about using their mobile phone; and
73% are more conscious about their driving behaviour.

source: http://www.mynrma.com.au/about/media...-road-toll.htm