By STEVE GRAY
QUEENSLAND is researching licence discounts but has no immediate plans to offer rewards to safer drivers, as happens in New South Wales.
The NSW scheme rewards motorists who have an unblemished driving record for five years with a 50 per cent reduction on the price of their licence renewal.
The ‘Fair Go for Safe Drivers’ scheme provides a discount of up to $81 on a licence renewal.
Since the scheme was launched in July last year, 408,000 people have been rewarded with the 50 per cent discount for not losing any demerit points.
Rewards for safe driving are under consideration in Queensland, a spokeswoman for the Department of Transport and Main Roads told the Free Times
“While there are no specific plans to implement a rewards scheme we have been undertaking research in conjunction with the Queensland University of Technology into the viability and credibility of reward or incentive schemes for motorists,” she said.
“Once this research is complete we will provide recommendations to the government for consideration.”
NSW Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall said 4548 motorists in the electorate had been rewarded with half price driver’s licences as part of the NSW Government’s ‘Fair Go for Safe Drivers’ incentive scheme.
Mr Marshall said the new the figures show women drivers in the Northern Tablelands were safer than men on our roads.
“In total, 8.8 per cent of the 51,610 licensed drivers in the Northern Tablelands have received the discounted licence through the scheme this year, with women making up 54 per cent of these,” he said.
The 50 per cent discount applies whether the licence is renewed for one, three or five years. Pensioners are unaffected as they pay nothing for their licence.
“It’s our way of saying thank you to motorists who do the right thing and encouraging better driving behaviour in others,” Mr Marshall said.
“Dangerous, selfish and stupid behaviour on our roads kills or injures hundreds of people each year.”
