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Recommendations of the NT Road Safety Taskforce

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Recommendation 1:

a) Approve increases in drive with alcohol infringement penalties as below:

b) Amend the Traffic Act such that any BAC offence that occurs within three years of a previous BAC offence leads to immediate administrative suspension of licence regardless of the degree of substantive penalty; and

c) Approve amendments to the Traffic Act to provide for immediate suspension of driver licences for three months for a second offence and six months for subsequent 0.05 or greater BAC offences within three years.

Recommendation 2:

a) Amend the Traffic Act to increase the time period within which a breath or blood sample for Blood Alcohol Concentration testing must be obtained from two hours to four hours; and

b) Amend the Traffic Act to allow medical practitioners, registered nurses or qualified persons to collect blood samples for Blood Alcohol Concentration testing in locations other than registered hospitals.

Recommendation 3:

Approve additional funding to DHCS in 2006-07 of $100 000 to undertake a review of the nature, governance and effectiveness of the current mandatory Drink Driver Education course reporting back to Cabinet by August 2007.

Recommendation 4:

a) Approve amendments to the Traffic Act to provide the necessary power to collect samples of blood to test for drugs and other psychotropic substances:

i) from persons involved in motor vehicle crashes; and
ii) in the case of dangerous or unexplained driving behaviour.

b) Create a new offence provision in the Traffic Act for driving having consumed a prohibited drug or other psychotropic substance;

c) Approve additional funding to NT Police of $90 000 from 2006-07 and ongoing for toxicology tests.

Recommendation 5:

Approve additional funding to DPI in 2006-07 of $120 000 to develop and implement a communication strategy for the package of drink and drug driving initiatives.

Recommendation 6:

a) Approve the introduction of a default speed limit on open roads of 110 km/h; and

b) Approve additional funding to DPI in 2006-07 of $100 000 for an education and media campaign.

Recommendation 7:

Approve increases in current Traffic Infringement penalties for speeding and introduce an infringement penalty for exceed speed limit by over 45 km/h as follows:

Recommendation 8:

a) Enhance education and media campaigns aimed at increasing seatbelt use, supported by strategically placed signage and other visual reminders; and

b) Approve increases in seatbelt infringement penalties as below:

Recommendation 9:

a) Support the proposed amendments to the Australian Road Rules to prohibit the carriage of more passengers in vehicles than restraints available; and

b) Approve an amendment to the Traffic Regulations to require children under 12 months of age to be appropriately restrained.

Recommendation 10:

Approve additional funding to DPI of $300 000 in 2006-07 and $600 000 per annum for four years commencing 2007-08 for a pilot program of four community-based Road Safety Officers, two in Central Australia and two in the Top End.

Recommendation 11:

Approve additional funding to DPI of $30 000 in 2006-07 and 2007-08 for signage and road surface marking on routes with high tourist traffic.

Recommendation 12:

a) Approve the development of a comprehensive graduated driver licensing scheme with the full proposal submitted to Cabinet in November 2006.

b) In the knowledge that a comprehensive graduated licensing scheme will not be implemented before 2008, approve the following amendments to the Motor Vehicles Act as initial measures to commence 1 January 2007:

i) Provide for a minimum learner licence period of 12 months, including for motorcycle licences, for all drivers under the age of 25 and six months for drivers 25 years or older;
ii) Provide for a provisional licence period of two years, or 12 months for drivers 25 years or older; and
iii) Mobile phone use in any form while driving be prohibited during the learner and provisional phases.

c) Approve an increase in the penalty for the offence of drive without L or P plate from $50 to $100.

Note: The current system allowing a provisional licence at a younger age for those undertaking either the Driver Training and Licencing (DTAL) or Motorcycle Education Training and Licencing (METAL) programs would be discontinued.

Recommendation 13:

a) Approve the development of a demerit point system based on the national model Demerit Points Scheme to commence operation 1 July 2007; and

b) Approve additional funding to DPI of $785 000 for 2006-07 for the development and implementation of the scheme and additional funding of $370 000 for 2007-08 and ongoing to administer and maintain the scheme.

Recommendation 14:

a) Approve additional funding of $450 000 per annum for 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09 to install integrated red light and speed cameras.

b) Approve increases in traffic light infringement penalties as below:

Recommendation 15:

It is recommended that the recommendation of the O’Sullivan Report in relation to the establishment of a dedicated Traffic Section be implemented as soon as possible in 2006-07.

Recommendation 16:

a) Approve the formation of Highway Patrol units to operate out of Katherine and Alice Springs from 1 July 2007;

b) Approve additional funding to NT Police of $1.5M in 2007-08 to establish the Highway Patrol units, and $638 000 in 2008-09 and ongoing to maintain the patrols.

Recommendation 17:

a) Approve the formation of Remote Area Traffic Patrol units to operate out of Katherine and Alice Springs from 1 July 2007;

b) Approve additional funding to NT Police of $1.5M in 2007-08 to form the Remote Area Traffic Patrols, and $638 000 in 2008-09 and ongoing to maintain the patrols.

Recommendation 18:

Approve additional funding to DPI of $250 000 from 2006-07 and ongoing for additional road safety education and awareness programs.

Recommendation 19:

a) Approve the development of a road safety education curriculum as part of the Transition to Year 10 curriculum framework; and

b) Approve additional funding to DPI of $100 000 per annum in 2007-08 and 2008-09 for the development of the curriculum.

Recommendation 20:

a) Approve the amendment of Schedule 2 of the Local Government Act to include Road Safety as a function of local government, and facilitate the required notices under section 121(4) of the Local Government Act to ensure that Road Safety is a valid function for all current Municipal Councils; and

b) Approve additional funding to DPI of $600 000 per annum for five years commencing 2006-07 to be allocated to each of the six Municipal Councils ($100 000 each per annum) to fund road safety activities.

Recommendation 21:

a) Approve repeal of the Road Safety Council Act thereby dissolving the Road Safety Council;

b) Approve institution of a Road Safety Co-ordination Group (to replace the Road Safety Council) which reports to the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport and the Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services; and

c) Approve additional funding to DPI of $90 000 in 2006-07 and ongoing to facilitate the appointment of a nationally recognised road safety expert to provide expert advice and assistance.