March/April 2006

Too many innocent people lost their lives unnecessarily over the Christmas and New Year period. Although the road toll for the whole year in NSW was the lowest in almost 60 years, more than 500 people died on our roads in 2005 and that is simply too high.

That is why NRMA will continue to apply the heat on government to get serious about making our roads safer. The Commonwealth and State Governments’ National Road Strategy, which seeks to reduce the road toll by 700 per year by 2010, shows that 44% of that target would be achieved by having safer roads.

The reality is that we all make mistakes on the road, but the penalty for a simple error should not be death.

fixourbloodyroads.com pulls no punches in pressuring government to upgrade the Pacific, Princes and Hume highways, and we will continue the campaign throughout the year.

NRMA will also pressure car manufacturers to make passenger and side airbags standard features in all new cars. The Crash Test Safety Rating Label should be displayed on all new cars, and fleet owners, particularly governments, should only purchase vehicles with a safety rating of four stars or above.

We also want the State Government to get serious about recruiting more police so that they can have a stronger presence on our roads year round – not just during the holidays. You’ve told us you see visible highway patrols as the most effective deterrent to breaking the law.

\While we will continue to fight these campaigns on behalf of our Members, we must also confront the reality that many of the fatalities over the holiday period were the result of driver error.

We recognise that greater driver education for both pre- and post-licence holders will ensure motorists have the skills they need to handle dangerous situations behind the wheel.

I have completed the NRMA Advanced Driver Training Course in Canberra (there is also a course available in Sydney) and strongly recommend it to all Members.

NRMA’s Driver School at North Strathfield is a must for all L-platers. Our simulators enable young people preparing for their licence to make mistakes and learn from them in a safe environment – before they get behind the wheel.

If you have taken advantage of our Travelodge Member offers, you will be pleased to know that we have a new addition to our hotel portfolio, following the purchase of the Capri Plaza Hotel in Newcastle.

The joint investment with JF Meridian Trust is part of our ongoing strategy to reinvest your money in bricks and mortar investments that can also serve a practical use to you and your family.

Alan Evans
President