New research conducted by the NRMA in the lead-up to Christmas has found overwhelming support for the role of marked Police Highway Patrol cars in driving down the state’s road toll.
The survey of 1,141 NRMA Members found over 80 per cent (82%) of people believed an on-the-spot penalty notice or warning from a Police Officer was the most effective way to change bad driver behaviour.
Only 10 per cent identified cameras.
The NRMA survey found 68 per cent believe there should be more marked highway patrols on the state’s roads while only one-in-five (21%) believe they have seen more marked Police Highway Patrols over the last 12 months. Sixty per cent of people have not been pulled over in the last year.
Seeing marked highway patrols on the road has a significant impact on a drivers’ behaviour with:
- 59% more conscious of driving within the speed limit
- 53% are generally more careful about their driving behaviour
- 46% are more alert to obeying the road rules
Since 2017 month-on-month analysis shows speed cameras consistently issuing double the fines as Police. Alarmingly, in June this year speed camera fines skyrocketed from over 30,000 to over 80,000 while fines from Police plummeted by more than half to just over 10,000 fines.
NRMA spokesperson Peter Khoury said the organisation’s support for the critical role of marked Highway Patrols in reducing the road toll was unequivocal.
“While the NRMA acknowledges the limited role of cameras as a tool to reduce the road toll there is no doubt where the public’s views lie – more Police, all of the time – and the NRMA supports the public’s view,” Mr Khoury said.
“Despite a significant impact on traffic volumes in the middle of 2020 due to COVID restrictions, the number of people who’ve lost their lives on NSW roads is way too high. We have not seen a meaningful reduction on last year’s road toll and 2019 was a horrific year on our roads.
“Policy makers all agree that we want to save lives and if we are to see a meaningful reduction in the road toll we need to increase the number of marked highway patrols on our roads and the amount of hours they are patrolling the streets.
“The NRMA welcomes the additional 250 Police in this year’s NSW Budget – what is critical now is that we see more of them dedicated to reducing the road toll and patrolling our roads to tackle bad driver behavior.
“We also support funding that guarantees highway Patrols have the adequate resourcing they need to do their job.”
