Transport has no solutions, so, just re-run an old TV ad

Minister for Transport and Main Roads 

Shock ad to target speeding drivers over Easter

One of the most confronting driver safety television commercials produced in Queensland will run over the next month in an attempt to tackle a runaway road toll.
Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson said the ‘Better slow down’ ad campaign would run for a month in the lead up to and during the Easter school holidays.
“This ad is so graphic it can only be shown during off peak times and after 8.30 at night,” Mr Emerson said.
“We’re well into March and Queensland’s road toll is almost one a day – 16 above last year.
“The road toll is already at a stage where there is no alternative but to confront people with the dangers of speeding in such a shocking way night after night.”
The advertisement, which first aired in Queensland in 2008 and again in 2010, will run for double the usual campaign.
Mr Emerson said it targeted young male drivers aged 17-24, who were the most over-represented drivers in fatal speed crashes in Queensland.
“First we targeted seatbelt use in the graphic ‘Better buckle up’ campaign in an effort to help people help themselves stay safer on the road in the event of a crash,” he said.
“The ‘Better slow down’ campaign will move on to targeting the high risk drivers who are actively putting not only their own, but other people’s lives in danger by speeding.
“There is no such thing as safe speeding. Speed contributes to one in every five fatal road crashes in Queensland, making it one of the biggest killers on our roads.
“The consequences of speeding are tragic, real, and long-lasting. This graphic campaign aims to remind reckless drivers of this.”
The campaign is funded through the Camera Detected Offence Program.
The Government is currently out to tender for a new long-term campaign to target road fatalities.

FATAL SPEEDING FACTS
During 1 January to 6 March 2013, there were 62 fatalities as a result of crashes within Queensland.
This is 16 greater than 2012.
This is 13 fatalities more than the previous five year average.*
January 2013 - Seven fatalities as a result of crashes involving speeding drivers or riders. 
In 2012, 59 deaths resulted from crashes involving speeding drivers. 
This represents 21.1% of Queensland’s road toll (280) and was 11 fatalities (22.9%) greater than the previous year (48)
[ENDS] 11 March 2013


Update :  
LNP pretends to respond to shocking statistics with a graphic speeding campaign and more speed cameras. Why not include factors that are just as graphic and causing actual harm:
A mobile phone embedded in the drivers hand! 
Details about the Pubs serving liquor to drunks. 
Speed cameras generate revenue they can keep in a Police slush fund.
Revenue raised from drunks, seat belt, mobile phone use goes to consolidated revenue. 

Transport Minister,
Dear Sir,

I appreciate you want to see a reduction in the road toll and I pray for safety and a reduction in the dreadful carnage on our roads.

The impact on families and Police and Emergency workers is too high.
I'm sad your department has given up - and feels a need to rehash a graphic campaign that might horrify the converted and amuse those who think they will never be the perpetrator of a tragic accident.
Transport should be investing in the stories of emergency workers and devastated families.
It is obvious that what is being done is not working. 

But still the revenue generated by speed camera is frittered away in stunts.
Police on the streets, in vehicles, out directing traffic, being seen, standing at troublesome intersections are under-used tactics that do make a difference.

Fancy show off Police cars are a distraction. 

More clutter is the problem, not the solution.
An experienced and talented officer hiding dangerously in the back of a van taking the easy option of photographing targets in well flowing traffic is flawed.
No education, no deterrent, no recognition or commendation for those driving safely.
Officers need to be talking to the people, getting them on side to change, not just sending them an arrogant, anonymous revenue raiser 40 days after the event.
Police refuse to provide data about the entrapment or proof it is a dangerous location properly supervised by the traffic committee.
Every major intersection provides dozens of opportunities to change behaviour - immediately.
Mobile phone usage, dangerous vehicles, distracted drivers, lack of seat belts, disobeying signals, speeding - could all be addressed, but LNP's hunger for cash sees her celebrating cash gained from secret speed cameras in dodgy locations.
Police claim each site is carefully selected but won't provide the data that backs up the claims.
A speed camera deployment means that there is no resources to have a visible, educative Police presence on those roads which they claim are a problem.
When Police are on the roads, they are often expected to park and perform in dangerous locations.
It appears the response to a horrific crash that involves dangerous driving, mobile phone use, no seat belt is ... place a speed camera on a road where traffic is flowing well.
LNP raises revenue and claims it has something to do with road safety.
You should release a study commending the effectiveness of these graphic ad campaigns.
If the Transport Department were serious you would release details of the beneficiaries of these campaigns.
The PR agencies, production companies, LNP mates, the incentive to reward television stations with government advertising if they do the right thing should be open for scrutiny.
Will graphic ads do anything to stop those who make the choice to drive dangerously on the roads?
Obviously not because the road toll is worse than ever.
It will become the same silly sloganistic nonsense they don't really believe, including 'every k is a killer.'
If Police believed that nonsense they would be booking every one who goes one k over the arbitrary and poorly managed speed limits.
The flawed reaction of LNP to horrific things happening on the roads is to take easy options to appear they are doing something.
"Exclusive stories" about speed cameras, secret deployments to play gotcha on motorists in conditions where the revenue raising is easy while claiming concern about the road toll.
Handing out media exclusives with each new device the TCO gets hold of is pathetic.
How much scrutiny has there ever been about who is really getting rich from the speed cameras?
How many former officers are now being well paid as consultants and salesmen for various speed cameras?
The roads are cluttered with government ads (including City cycle, Personalised Number Plate junk, Bus shelters) telling people that the lure of using busy road space is more important than safety.
Would you please release details of the cost of this latest graphic exercise, including the amounts being paid to the beneficiaries?
I note that you continue to refuse to release the deliberations of the local traffic committees.
Are you concerned you will be embarrassed about the lack of serious effort made to make speed limits more consistent and obvious to drivers?
The LNP refuses to release details about how they have spent $8 million raised by their flawed Offender Levy.
The proceeds LNP is raising through traffic camera detected offences should be available.
How much has been spent buying reports to order from the Melbourne University, then giving snippets to media mates?
The LNP refuses to recognise the death of unborn children in road statistics.
That is a disgusting lack of respect but could be a factor in challenging the poor behaviour on the roads.
I note Transport is "out to tender" to give more mates some access to Government cash.
The mates will be lined up to get their finger in the pie.
Police don't have resources to quickly and efficiently contact those who are gotcha'd by the secret cameras.
Reports from member of the public about dangerous behaviour of drivers can't be acted on promptly when it could help avoid a tragedy.
Police lack resources to work with clubs, pubs with a bad record of drunk drivers attending those venues.
Police are too stretched to make any prompt and informative use of the hundreds of tragic incidents.
There is no capacity to promptly release information discovered by the Forensic units about the issues they recognise in the crashes they investigate.
20% of the road deaths = 80% of the effort of Police with speed cameras in locations having little to do with the problem. The speed cameras are doing nothing to stop the majority of those incidents because it is not just going over the speed limit, it is deliberately engaging in dangerous and destructive behaviour.
Your department refuses to respond to an unacceptable number of deaths occurring between 12 and 3 pm.
Taking the easy way out with an ad campaign is another LNP disappointment, just because it is an easy way to be seen to be doing something. Some free publicity for the Transport Department.
Suggestion :  Use real news footage and interviews with Forensic officers and Police/Emergency workers on the scene of these incidents to produce documentaries which those who are detected of dangerous driving (fatal five) will be encouraged to view as part of their commitment to keep their licence. Encourage televison media mates to make a series looking at the factors involved in the tragic incidents that have caused so much harm.
Thanks for your consideration.
I look forward to your open and accountable provision of the beneficiaries of the speed camera cash, including the stash being spent on your "graphic" advertising blitz.

Please, abandon your defeatist attitude that there is nothing else left to dobut run a gory ad on late night television.

Regards
Phillip Young
47 Cornflower St
Mansfield 4122

Comments on Road Safety issues