Pubdate: Fri, 15 Dec 2006
Source: Marlborough Express (New Zealand)
Copyright: Independent Newspapers Limited 2006
Contact:  http://www.marlboroughexpress.co.nz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1139
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test)

STRONGER TRAFFIC ACTION NEEDED

The proposed steps announced by Police Minister Annette King and 
Transport Safety Minister Harry Duynhoven this week to overhaul road 
safety are a step in the right direction, writes The Marlborough 
Express in an editorial.

Under the new measures motorists could risk losing their licences for 
running red lights or not wearing seatbelts as demerit points are 
suggested to replace fines for some offences. The Government says it 
is investigating the greater use of demerit points to stop motorists, 
especially youths, from continuing to drive while clocking up big 
fines. This change could help to dispel public perceptions that 
police issue tickets mainly as a revenue gathering exercise. Mrs King 
says the Government does not want drivers writing out cheques but 
would rather they change their behaviour.

The idea of replacing fines with demerits will only work if those who 
continue to drive after they have lost their licences are dealt with 
severely by the law.

The type of driver who manages to collect enough demerits to lose 
their licence will probably continue to drive regardless of whether 
they have a licence or not.

Hitting offenders where it hurts, like confiscating their cars, might 
seem like a drastic idea but will certainly make drivers think twice 
about breaking the law.

Another proposed measure is roadside drug testing. Drivers who are 
stopped because they are suspected of driving while impaired by 
illegal drugs will be required to undergo a roadside test, followed 
by blood tests. If evidence of illegal drugs is found, they will be prosecuted.

This is another positive step but some are calling for even stronger 
action. Lower Hutt woman Rachael Ford, whose mother Mary Radley died 
after a drugged driver slammed into the car she was driving near 
Koromiko in August 2004, is unhappy that the new measures focus on 
illegal drugs. She says legal drugs, such as methadone and morphine 
tablets, are just as much a problem as all the other illegal drugs.

One area where Government has not clamped down is on drivers who talk 
or txt on cellphones while driving. An outright ban on drivers using 
hand-held cellphones is already in force in 35 countries. Driving a 
car is an activity that requires 100 percent concentration and 
anything that distracts a driver can be extremely dangerous. Perhaps 
more deaths need to be attributed to cellphone use before action will 
be taken on this issue.

Groups such as the Consumers Institute say road deaths are not 
falling at the rate required to meet the Government's target of fewer 
than 300 roads deaths by 2010.

The institute has suggested 10 measures to lower the road toll, 
ranging from reducing the drink-drive limit to raising the minimum 
driving age to 16. The statistics are not good. So far this year 62 
young drivers aged between 15 and 19 have died on our roads, that's 
16 percent of the road toll.

Even 300 road deaths a year is still too many. Strong action is 
needed to bring the road toll down to even less than that and 
hopefully the new measures will go some way to achieving that.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman