THE state government has allocated more than $10 million for road safety measures including increasing speed limits for novice drivers, expanding speed camera enforcement and improving motorcycle safety on the Great Eastern Drive.
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The third part of the Tasmanian Road Safety Action Plan 2014-2016 was announced yesterday by Infrastructure Minister Rene Hidding.
Other measures include:
● More cyclist warning signs on popular bike routes.
● Review motorcycle training and safety programs.
● Consideration of minimum passing distance for cyclists.
● Lower rural speed limits over the long term where necessary.
● Encouraging councils to drop 60km/h roads to 50km/h.
"Based on crash statistics, our areas of focus continue to be run-off road crashes, speed, drink-driving, inexperience and motorcycle crashes," Mr Hidding said yesterday.
"It is my firm belief that no Tasmanian should be killed or injured on our roads and we have to strive towards a zero road toll in Tasmania."
L2 and P1 drivers will now be able to drive at 100km/h in 110km/h zones and 90km/h in 100km/h zones with the scrapping of the 80km/h limit.
The rationale is to allow learner drivers to gain experience driving at higher speeds while supervised.
There was nothing new in the plan for bus safety, however, the Stop Look Listen Think campaign for school students is set to continue.
A spokesman said there were already ongoing bus safety programs that included "strengthening relationships with external stakeholders" and "distributing materials" that focused on pedestrians getting on and off buses.
Tasmanian Bicycle Council chairwoman Emma Pharo said the funding for vulnerable road users available under the plan was a positive.
The Tasmanian Motorcycle Council also backed the funding for bike infrastructure roll-outs.