From: Martin, Neil
Sent: Thursday, 22 October 2009
Subject: Pedestrian safety and the ACT Road Rules Handbook

Mr Leon Arundell

Convenor, Canberra Pedestrian Forum

Dear Mr Arundell

Thank you for your email of 23 September 2009 suggesting a number of changes to the ACT Road Rules Handbook. Your email has been forwarded to me fro reply. I apologise for the delay in responding.

Many of your points and suggestions are well made.

It should be understood however, that the Handbook is predominantly a training tool for learner drivers and is designed to assist ACT or visiting drivers. It is intended as a summary of key aspects of road transport law rather than an exhaustive list of all road transport provisions.  Legislative provisions are contained in the Australian Road Rules 2003 (ARRs) and related Acts and Regulations.  

The 2010 version of the handbook is already undergoing final editing before being sent to print and at this point there is very little scope to incorporate major changes before printing.

A number of the suggestions you have made have already been picked up in the current review and inserted in the 2010 version of the Handbook. Where possible the other changes you have suggested will be considered for inclusion prior to the handbook being printed.

Some of the more major suggestions you have made will need further consideration through 2010 as the next version of the handbook is prepared for publication.  Part of the reason for this is that your comments have raised some questions in relation to the consistency of the ARRs particularly in relation to the terminology of traffic, vehicles and pedestrians.  The officer, who represents the ACT on the Australian Road Rules Maintenance Group (ARRMG), has been asked to investigate and clarify these matters before changes in relation to these matters are made to the ACT Road Rules Handbook.

Once these matters have been considered by the ARRMG it will be possible to determine what further changes should be included in the following edition of the Handbook.

Thank you for your continued interest in road safety.

Yours sincerely,

Neil Martin JP

Project Officer

Department of Territory and Municipal Services

Transport and Infrastructure Division

Transport Regulation

Road Ready Program