Meeting of the Parliament 01 March 2016
The powers will give those officers a sense of empowerment and further clarity on what is enforceable, as well as assisting in the cultural understanding. Improvement in behaviour—if we get it right on education and awareness—could lead to less enforcement as people understand what is and is not acceptable.
There are issues around signage and the understanding of which streets could be affected, so it is important to get the legislation right. The right implementation will help with the workability and practicality of how the measures would be enforced.
If there is one issue that has been on-going since this Parliament’s creation on which the inability to legislative has frustrated people, there is no doubt that it must be this one. The issue seems so simple. The legislation is complex, but the objective of ensuring more responsible parking and tackling irresponsible parking is simple.
As transport minister, I have launched a number of initiatives to improve road safety. Because of the impact of traffic speed in built-up areas, I will imminently launch the in town, slow down initiative.
In reviewing the road safety framework, I want to see more careful driving and a more considered approach from drivers, which will make a difference to road safety. The rolling out of 20mph zones is to be encouraged, as well as other road safety campaigns. I have no doubt that, if we show that more vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians, have a sense of priority and accessibility, that will make a difference for their safety and just for a general, better commonsense approach in local neighbourhoods.
For all those reasons, the Government supports Sandra White’s bill at stage 1. In the event that the bill cannot progress because of timing, and having resolved the necessary legislative issues, the Government has committed to legislate on the topic in the next session.
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