Media Release |
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PCA Praises FedExCalls on Govt to act on dangerous parkingTuesday 8th August 2000 |
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The Chairman of the Pedestrian Council of Australia (PCA), Mr Harold Scruby, today congratulated FedEx for implementing its new exemplary and responsible road safety policies. He said: "Following an article in the Sun-Herald of February 2000, (copy attached), entitled `Courier giant pays for staff who break laws’, we were invited to several meetings with FedEx’s Managing Director, Ms Dennice Wilson. "Ms Wilson has now written to us (copy attached) pledging that FedEx will no longer pay parking fines where any person’s safety is believed to have been compromised. Ms Wilson added that she hoped that all companies will have the same dedication to safety. Mr Scruby said: "Many motorists do not understand that dangerous stopping and parking can be just as fatal as dangerous driving. Parking on footpaths, double parking, stopping in pedestrian crossings and bus zones and parking too close to corners, can easily cause death and serious injury. Many companies are paying their drivers’ fines, placing commerce before safety, with utter disregard for the consequences. All such companies should realise that if a person were killed or injured as a result of such irresponsible behaviour, substantial punitive damages could be awarded against their organisations and even directors. He said: "The NSW Pedestrian Road Toll this year stands at 80 - 10 higher than last year. Serious pedestrian injuries are ten times this amount. This is likely to increase significantly as we begin to experience the largest influx of tourists known to this nation. "Unfortunately, the penalties for dangerous parking do not reflect the gravity of the offences. For example, a motorist can park a vehicle blocking the entire footpath in George Street, all day, forcing all pedestrians onto the road and the maximum penalty for the entire 24 hour period is $61. The law does not even permit the right of tow away. This is the same penalty for being 5 minutes overdue on a parking meter. The anomalies become more absurd: the penalties for stopping on a Clearway are about $250 including towing (motorists can block pedestrian access but can’t block motor vehicle access). The fine is less than a quarter of this for parking on the footpath; clearly there is a huge financial incentive to choose this option. Additionally, the cost of parking for a day in the CBD is now greater than $50 in many carparks. Why not choose the footpath? "Adding insult to injury, enforcement is appalling, as confirmed the Auditor-General’s report, with Parking Patrol Officers concentrating on parking meters and either turning a blind eye or giving warnings to motorists who stop or park dangerously. We again congratulate FedEx on their initiative and call on the NSW Government and STAYSAFE to immediately review and urgently rectify these serious life-threatening issues. Contact: Harold Scruby – Chairman/CEO (0418) 110-011 or (02) 9968-4555 PEDESTRIAN COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED - ABN 18 075 106 286 - P0 BOX 500 NEUTRAL BAY NSW 2089 |
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Federal Express Tel : (65) 371 2828
#07-00 BP Tower FedEx® Federal Express August 2, 2000 Mr. Harold Scruby Chairman/CEO Pedestrian Council of P0 Dear Harold, Further to our recent meetings, FedEx is pleased to take this opportunity to thank you for working with us to ensure that our vehicles are not parked in locations where safety is compromised. FedEx is dedicated to the safety of the public and our people. Thanks to the teamwork between you and the management team in FedEx operates a door to door time definite express service for documents, packages and freight. Our customers demand speed and reliability. In the busier districts of You have indicated that you genuinely sympathise with the daily predicament of FedEx’s drivers and will endeavour to persuade Councils to create many more Truck Zones in order to provide a far more equitable balance between the needs of those delivering goods and those wanting customer parking. We would appreciate any support that you can give us to improve this situation by bringing this to the attention of the relevant authorities. While this helps companies such as FedEx, the real benefit is to the customers and businesses of FedEx congratulates you on your tireless efforts to ensure the safety of the pedestrians of Sincerely, Scanned Copy - Signature on File
Dennice A. Wilson FedEx Managing Director Regional Planning & Engineering
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