7.1 Enforcement strategies
7.1.1 Enforcement against illegal behaviour (27 May 1991)
Resources should be directed at illegal behaviour and locations for which there is positive evidence of an associated high crash risk and/or increased injury severity. The choice of enforcement operation should be made in terms of its ability to reduce crash risk or injury severity.
Police enforcement should primarily be highly visible and aimed at deterring unsafe driver behaviour, rather than maximising the number of convictions.
Enforcement should give adequate attention to all dangerous offences and not concentrate unduly on speeding offences.
7.1.2 Cost effective strategies (27 May 1991)
The most effective enforcement strategies, in terms of safety and traffic management, should be determined and pursued.
7.1.3 Information feedback for other countermeasures (27 May 1991)
Appropriate authorities should be notified of locations or circumstances showing an excessive number of traffic offences. Engineering countermeasures to change the road environment to reduce these offences should be investigated.
7.1.4 Enforcement philosophy (27 May 1991)
Traffic law enforcement should not be used in isolation but should be integrated with education.
When an offence is observed, road users should have the consequences of their actions explained to them as part of the issuing of a warning or infringement notice.
7.1.5 Police attitude (27 May 1991)
Police officers should exercise understanding, discretion and commonsense in dealing with minor and unintentional errors. Warnings should be issued for such offences.
7.1.6 Speed enforcement (27 May 1991)
Enforcement should be used to deter excessive speeding at locations and times for which there is evidence of increased crash risk and/or injury severity associated with speed.
7.1.7(c) Use of radar speed measuring devices (15 July 2002)
Only radar devices complying with the Australian Standard should be used for measuring speed for enforcement purposes.
Radar devices should be used only by officers licensed to operate radar in accordance with procedures contained in the Australian Standard.
Radar speed enforcement should be conducted in conjunction with a high level of public education on the dangers associated with speeding.
The majority of radar speed camera operations should only be conducted at locations with high accident histories and where excessive vehicle speed is a major factor contributing to the accident history.
7.1.8 Integrated photographic evidence (27 May 1991)
Speed measurement devices utilising integrated photographic equipment have a role to play in achieving maximum deterrence against excessive speeding and ensuring the most efficient use of enforcement resources.
These devices should comply with an Australian Standard.
7.1.9 Random checks (27 May 1991)
Random checks on vehicle registration, driver licence, road worthiness, use of seat belts and child restraints and alcohol and drug impairment are supported.
7.1.10 Evaluation of enforcement (27 May 1991)
Enforcement operations should be evaluated with the objective of establishing guidelines for effective enforcement aimed at crash reduction and injury minimisation.
Research should be undertaken to investigate the cost effectiveness of operations and to determine optimum enforcement procedures.
7.1.11(c) Radar detectors and jammers (25 February 1991)
A ban on the sale, use or possession of radar speed detectors and jammers is supported.
As an alternative, support is provided for the provision of cruise controls as standard equipment in new motor vehicles; and the retro fitting of existing vehicles.
7.1.12(c) Marked police vehicles (27 May 1991)
The high visibility of police officers and the use of marked police vehicles is supported.
7.1.13(c) Double demerit points ( 24 September 2001)
The RAC supports the introduction of a 12 month trial period during which double demerit points will be allocated to specific offences (speeding or failure to wear a seat belt) during long weekends/public holidays.