The Australian Road Train Association (ARTA) says a proposal before the Victorian Government to actively encourage better driver knowledge and behaviour rather than simple punishments is a step in the right direction for road safety.
The government is considering a British model of allowing drivers to trade demerit points in return for undertaking driver education. ARTA Chief Executive Duncan Bremner said “We see this type of policy proposal as a positive step forward. It is about time governments recognise that masking one of their most significant revenue streams as ‘road safety’ is being proved for the furphy it is, and we congratulate the Victoria Government on working towards real solutions in addressing the unnecessary carnage on our roads.”
The proposal is an extension of ARTA support for a policy that would provide merit point rewards in recognition of the stringent training undertaken particularly by heavy vehicle operators. “As regulators continually apply criteria and impediments in the form of accreditations and penalties, then they must equally recognise that the professional heavy vehicle operator is, through their experience, skill, and accreditation, a far more capable and safer driver than your average commuter.” Mr Bremner said the next step was for governments was to look further than simply ‘good’ and ‘bad’ drivers and that pro-active education is the only way to address the issue of road safety.
