To: Minister for Transport, Bill Marmion and Shadow Minister for Transport, Rita Saffioti
Keep Our Communities Safe: Give us a brake.
We urge the Minister to require that cars being used for driving tests are fitted with a centrally mounted handbrake or dual control to ensure the safety of the communities around assessment centres, driving assessors and those being tested for driving competency.
Why is this important?
By 2020, approximately 40% of cars will be fitted with an electronic park brake.
Practical Driving Assessors are being asked to conduct tests in cars fitted only with electronic park brakes. CPSU/CSA members are opposing the use of electronic park brakes because they are concerned about the safety of the communities they live and work in.
Electronic park brakes are not as successful at stopping cars in an emergency situation. West Australians come to their driving assessment with a range of capabilities and in this stressful situation, safety should be paramount. A centrally mounted brake or dual control is the best method to ensure the safety of those being tested, those testing them and the communities in which they are being tested.
How it will be delivered
We plan to deliver the petition in person to the Minister and Shadow Minister in early 2017.