Press Release

The RACT says a number of election campaign announcements on road safety have been positive to date and it has posted an analysis of the parties' commitments on its website.

Earlier this year, the RACT unveiled a comprehensive Roadmap for the next Tasmanian Government, listing 50 recommendations to further the cause of "safer drivers in safer cars on safer roads" in Tasmania.

"The RACT wrote to the three party leaders asking for a formal response to the Roadmap's recommendations by Wednesday this week (March 10). So far the Liberals have replied, addressing each of the fifty recommendations, but there has been no formal response from Labor or the Greens," said RACT spokesman Vince Taskunas.

"We've also conducted an analysis of the daily process of policy announcements and campaign election promises that have been made so far, with our Roadmap as the benchmark and frankly, we're hoping for some big announcements in what is left of the election campaign, in particular from Labor and the Greens."

"The results of our analysis have now been posted on the RACT website at http://www.ract.com.au/news_and_issues," Mr Taskunas said. "This allows voters to compare the parties' current responses to the RACT's fifty Roadmap recommendations. We will do a further update to this document in the days before polling day."

Mr Taskunas said that many of the announcements to date are positive. "Labor's welcome announcement that they will introduce an alcohol interlocks program for repeat drink-drive offenders is something the RACT has consistently supported.

"The Greens' $32.5m package to revitalise rail will help get more freight off our already overstretched roads, and the Liberals' $6 million announcement for audible tactile line markings on roads is an important measure to combat fatigue and inattention.

"We're pleased to see a Liberal commitment to utilise speed camera revenue specifically for road safety, rather than simply placing the funds in general revenue, along with Liberal support for many of the Roadmap's recommendations.

"The RACT is also encouraged that both the Greens and the Liberals have committed to compulsory road safety education in schools. This is an issue the RACT has passionately advocated since before the 2006 election.

The RACT has expressed disappointment that it hasn't heard more details from the ALP or the Greens. "We can only be hopeful that this means these parties intend making a significant announcement on their priorities to improve road safety in the seven days ahead," Mr Taskunas said.

ENDS  12 March 2010

For further information:
Vince Taskunas, GM Public Policy & Communications   
0417 005 647