news

NRMA proposes driver education for speeding drivers

The NRMA has called for the New South Wales Government to introduce alternatives such as driver training courses for low level speeding offences.


With a year-to-date road toll of 208 for 2016, NSW has already seen a 25 per cent spike in road deaths compared to the same period last year.

Kyle Loades, president of the NRMA, said that speed-related offences are a significant factor in fatal crashes, and that speed offenders need to be better educated about the dangers of their risky actions.

“Over the past 12 months, 41 per cent of fatal crashes in NSW were caused by excessive speed, which is an increase of 23 per cent compared to the 2013/2015 average,” he said.

“Drivers are not getting the message under the current system that speeding is never an option on our roads.”

In 2012 the NRMA released the ‘Three-Point Plan to Tackle Bad Drivers’, which called for the government to:

  • Get tough on repeat offenders by mandating interlock devices for the vehicles of repeat drink drivers
  • Having more visible police on the roads to catch bad drivers
  • Educate bad drivers with driver education courses for low level speeding offenders instead of giving demerit points and a fine.

So far the NSW government has implemented the use of mandatory interlocks for repeat offenders and investing in more highway patrol resources.


Above: The NSW Police recently added a Lexus RC F patrol car to their fleet

Loades said the sharp increase in the road toll requires more action to be taken, notably driver education.

“Speed awareness courses would not only address driver attitudes but also provide drivers with the opportunity to refresh their knowledge of [the] road rules,” he said.

“Similar courses operate in the UK already and have yielded positive changes to driver behavior and attitudes towards speeding.”

Chat with us!







Chat with Agent