Page 3517 - Week 12 - Thursday, 20 September 1990
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I said, enables the Minister of the time to fix taxi fares as a result of consultation with the taxi industry advisory council. It means that in future when variations to taxi fares are required - and almost invariably that means fares going up - there will not be a lengthy time delay required for amendment and endorsement by the Assembly. Mr Speaker, I present the explanatory memorandum for this Bill.
Debate (on motion by Mrs Grassby) adjourned.
MOTOR TRAFFIC (AMENDMENT) BILL (NO. 6) 1990
MR DUBY (Minister for Finance and Urban Services) (10.49): Mr Speaker, I present the Motor Traffic (Amendment) Bill (No. 6) 1990. I move:
That this Bill be agreed to in principle.
Mr Speaker, the ACT Motor Traffic Act was introduced in 1936 and relates to the control of motor vehicles and the regulation of motor traffic. This Bill increases the penalties for on the spot fines for traffic infringement notices or TINS as they are known in the trade. This is part of the Government's ongoing commitment to improve road safety and reduce the road toll in the Australian Capital Territory. The increased penalties complement such measures as increased enforcement of seat belt and restraint wearing, graduated licences for novice drivers and continued road safety education programs in schools.
Traffic infringement notices are issued by the police for less serious traffic offences such as speeding, which has been graduated into three levels in the Australian Capital Territory - up to 15 kilometres above the speed limit, 15 to 30 kilometres, and over 30 kilometres; not wearing a seat belt; not stopping at a stop sign or giving way at a give way sign; not wearing a motor cycle helmet; and so on. Offences of a more serious nature, such as dangerous or negligent driving, are not traffic infringements. Offenders who commit these types of acts do not receive on the spot fines but are required to go before the court. Driving at a dangerous speed is one such offence with a penalty of up to $2,000.
The estimated cost to the community for each fatality as a result of a road accident is currently $560,000. In 1989, 32 people lost their lives on ACT roads, representing a cost to the community of nearly $18m; that is before taking into consideration the emotional cost to relatives and friends of the victims.
Let me say that I am confident that, by increasing the fines for traffic infringements, drivers in future will think twice about how they drive. There will be more incentive for them to behave as responsible drivers. There will also be strong deterrents for those who habitually
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