Fairer demerit system is no excuse for speeding

In my column in the last edition of Open Road, I called on the Government to reform the demerit point system and I am pleased to report that in March the Minister for Roads, Michael Daley, responded with a package of reforms.

NRMA has welcomed the NSW Government’s decision to reduce the number of demerit points from three to one for motorists caught exceeding the speed limit by up to 10 kilometres.

The changes to the demerit point system are fair without sacrificing safety and this is a good first step towards a better system.

NRMA has been calling for a fairer system because someone doing only one km/h over the limit could lose the same points as someone doing 25 km/h.  If you got booked doing just one kilometre over the limit on a public holiday you could lose half your demerit points – and NRMA has long said that’s too harsh.

It is now up to motorists to do the right thing – NSW now has a fairer system but there is still no excuse for speeding.

In this edition,  there is a wonderful feature story on NRMA’s coastal holiday parks (starting page 58). In the current economic climate there is strong demand for affordable holidays. That is why we have acquired five holiday parks in NSW and Queensland in the last few years, to ensure that as many of our Members and their families as possible have access to these great facilities and at discounted rates.

We have already invested heavily in these holiday parks and will continue to do so to provide a range of accommodation – from luxury cabins to the good old-fashioned tent site.

We have recently announced our intention to redevelop our Ocean Beach Holiday Park at Umina to make sure that this beautiful family holiday spot is more accessible to more people. All of our holiday parks have great facilities and activities, and I would encourage all Members to consider a visit when you are planning your next holiday.

Your voices will get NSW moving again

One of the most important services NRMA can offer our Members is standing up for the things that are important to you. We’ve had close to 90 years of experience at making Governments listen to your concerns and getting results.

NRMA recently launched our latest campaign to give you a voice – RoadTube.

The number of people who have visited the website roadtube.com.au, uploaded videos and posted comments, has been fantastic. Our touring portable ‘toll booths’ have also proven popular whenever we’ve taken them to community events and shopping malls.

I believe the success of RoadTube comes from the fact that frustrated motorists finally have a place they can have their say. The quality of local roads, petrol prices, public transport and traffic have been the most popular topics motorists have talked about.

We have written to Ministers in the State and Federal Government and Opposition and asked them to also get involved with the campaign. RoadTube is fast becoming an excellent resource for NRMA to identify problems on our roads that need attention and we hope our politicians see the same value from the website.

A number of the videos have been so creative and insightful, NRMA has immediately responded to the issues being raised and taken what was one person’s frustration with the roads and made it an issue the media and Government could not ignore.

That’s why I am urging all our Members to mobilise and have their say. By getting involved with RoadTube, you can become part of the process and hopefully get something done about the things that annoy you on our roads.

Visit roadtube.com.au and upload your video or post a blog. Together, we can get NSW Moving Again.

President Wendy Machin

Open Road May/June 2009