A Federal Election looms … and we’re on the roads again With another Federal Election looming and politicians vying for your votes, NRMA asked the major parties to fill us in on their plans for the roads should they win office. We wanted to know their views on transport infrastructure; fuel; road safety; traffic congestion and the steps they’ll take to assist state governments to address issues on our roads.

After all, the Commonwealth Government takes nearly $14 billion a year out of motorists’ pockets via the 38 cents a litre fuel excise we pay every time we fill our tanks.

The excise was levied precisely for the purpose of providing funding for roads in our wonderful country.

It’s only fair we get more than the $3 billion a year that we get back now for road and rail infrastructure.

Safer roads and safer cars mean safer road users – the difference between life and death.

Before you head to the polling booths, you can read the major parties’ responses on pages 50-51.

Unless politicians of all persuasions are made accountable for the lack of spending on our roads, our roads will remain second rate, as any of you who have driven in parts of North America or Europe would well recognise.

Many times I have seen first-hand the dangers motorists face on the Princes Highway.

Between 1997 and 2005, more than 7,000 people were injured and 177 killed on the highway. Something must be done urgently which is why I hit the road again in July to campaign for more action to fix it.

And, despite years of roadwork, more than 11,000 people were injured and 467 killed on the Pacific Highway between 1997 and 2005.

It’s time for all levels of government to recognise their failure to fix the roads is not only costing lives, it’s costing our economy millions.

The interests of our Members are our greatest concern, whether they are in lobbying for safer roads or in getting the best motoring information.

In December, the winners of the 2007 Australia’s Best Cars Awards will be announced.

This year there will be an even greater emphasis on crash ratings and driver safety. NRMA is giving Members the opportunity to win a trip for two to the awards dinner in Melbourne.

Alan Evans President