New report finds public backs cops to reduce road toll

A new report by the NRMA has found almost 90 per cent of people believed an on-the-spot penalty or warning from NSW Police was the most effective way to change poor driving behaviour.

Police take Breath Tests for alcohol and other drugs for drivers

The Cops Stop Crashes report included a survey of 796 NRMA members which found overwhelming support (87%) for the work of the NSW Police in reducing the state’s worrying road toll (up from 82% in 2020). Only seven per cent believed enforcement cameras were more effective.

Cops Stop Crashes also found that seeing NSW Police on the road had a positive impact on driver behaviour with:

56% more conscious of driving within the speed limit
53% are generally more careful about their driving behaviour
41% are more alert to obeying the road rules.

The NRMA has congratulated the NSW Police on exceeding its critical annual target of 200,000 roadside drug tests. With around one-fifth (21%) of road deaths now attributed to drug driving the NRMA is calling for a new target to be set.

There has been a reported 100,000 fall in Random Breath Tests conducted in NSW to 3.4 million tests. Testing levels of at least 1.1 tests per year, per licence holder to curb drink driving or over 7.6 million tests are widely regarded as best practice.

The NRMA is calling upon the NSW Government to ramp up the visibility of Police enforcement on our roads, especially in regional areas, roadside drug and alcohol testing data to be made public and a new target for roadside drug testing to reduce the horrific road toll.

NRMA Spokesperson, Peter Khoury said the NRMA’s unwavering support of the NSW Police in reducing the road toll was overwhelmingly backed up by the public.
“Increasing the number of police on our roads remains the most critical component in reducing road trauma because the more drivers see them on our roads the more likely they are to change their behaviour,” Mr Khoury said.

"We’re now more than halfway through 2025 and 223 people have been killed on NSW roads- that’s 29 more lives lost compared to the same period last year and clearly a tragedy that must be addressed.”

Cops stop Crashes highlights that with the advancement of technology; there has been a growing emphasis on automated enforcement over traditional police enforcement.

While cameras play an important role, the NRMA maintains its long-held position that traditional police enforcement remains the most effective way to address high-risk behaviours. This includes tackling drink and drug driving, aggressive driving and issuing on-the-spot fines and licence termination for high-range speeding.

Read the Cops Stop Crashes report

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