Australian State Government to clamp down on dangerous drivers following spate of fatalities

SYDNEY, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- The first day of the New South Wales (NSW) Government's road safety plan got underway on Wednesday, after a horror year on the Australian State's roads which saw 392 people lose their lives in motor vehicle accidents.

Targeting everything from speeding, drink driving, drug driving, driver distraction, driver fatigue and truck safety, the 1.1 billion U.S. dollar strategy will remain in place for at least five years in a concerted effort to lower the rate of fatalities throughout the state's roads.

"Every 41 minutes in NSW someone is either killed or seriously injured on our roads, leaving families and friends with the heartache," NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said.

"As a Government we know we can do more and that is why this plan makes it clear if you break the law you will be caught and will pay the price."

"We also want to ensure that our public education campaigns are targeted in the right way."

Among the measures being put into place are amendments to legislation that will allow camera technology to enforce against distracted drivers and mobile phone users.

The government is also implementing a number of "average speed cameras" for heavy vehicles in metropolitan Sydney to prevent truck drivers speeding in built up areas.

In addition, the issue of drug drivers will come squarely into the crosshairs off authorities with roadside drugs tests set to double from 100,000 per year to 200,000 by 2020.

For the first time, the drug cocaine will also be included in the test. Enditem