I’m not normally one to jump on the bash-the-police-press-release bandwagin but this one is just nutty. Especially:

“A further five drivers were caught travelling over 45km/h.”

I wasn’t aware the ACT had a blanket limit of 45k/h.

AlpineViper said :

“A further five drivers were caught travelling over 45km/h.”

I wasn’t aware the ACT had a blanket limit of 45k/h.

Love your pedantry, you put me to shame! I also like how the superintendent is said to be disappointed in only five drivers being caught travelling over 45kmh!

With over 3 million kms on the road my perception is that poor driving skills,lack of awareness,judgement and anticipation are the main reasons why collisions occur.Of course this is then exacerbated when one adds speeding and also texting to the mix!

Bundah is right – the over-emphasis on speed is unwarranted and only occurs because of a desire to be seen to do something easy, and because it is the only quantifiable offence. It comes at the expense of good policing of the things that matter more … wakefulness, awareness, anticipation, phone use. All of these are made worse by forcing people to drive at speeds that are too low to occupy their minds, so they go into an unthinking and unaware ‘dumb driver’ mode. In this mode they are a greater threat to themselves and others than if they were driving to suit the conditions i.e. at a sensible speed. After being caught doing 61kph in a suburban through road (Stonehaven Cresc) that I assumed was 60k I have given up, and now switch off brain when driving at ludicrously low speeds simply because at such speeds it is impossible to keep concentrating. Greater danger to me and others but I can’t afford to lose my licence.

’209 cautions’

That, dear people, is why Govco love speed cameras. Takes all the decision making out of the equation, and returns good solid dollars to Treasury.

Katy will be crying at 209 less contributions.

Speeding is dangerous and apart from the obvious reaction times and stopping distances, it is about expectation and speed differential. If every driver did the (same) speed limit then
- merging would be easier,
- changing lanes might be possible,
- people wouldn’t need to tailgate
- traffic would spread out and not bunch up,
- we could concentrate on traffic not avoiding idiots.

So can we all relax, just stick to the limit (plus or minus 5) and get there with less stress and fuss.
And can the Police focus on those tools doing 110 in an 80k zone please, seen 5 in the last week, those who deliberately run red lights, and those on mobile phones,

Could we also have the figures for the number of drivers caught failing to indicate and using fog lights in clear weather?

FFS why are we having these targeted campaigns. “ACT Policing is focusing on seatbelts for the month of May.” Does it not matter if we don’t were our seat belts in the months of April and June?

I guess it just proves that the rules are there to be broken.

My comment isn’t about ACT Policing but…

On Saturday, a bunch of us drove up to Sydney for a birthday weekend which included the Crows v Swans AFL game. About half way up the Hume Hwy, traffic slowed to a halt just before the ‘truck inspection stop’ (or whatever it’s called) and we thought there must have been an accident.

But no – a huge squad of coppers (inc cars, paddy wagons etc) were waving cars, trucks and buses into the inspection area and – with what seemed to be sniffer dogs – searching all the vehicles including the luggage hold of the bus.

We were waved past (the inspection area was pretty full) but I’ve never seen this happen before. Can anyone say whether it’s a regular thing these days? I presume they were searching for drugs?

geetee said :

My comment isn’t about ACT Policing but…

On Saturday, a bunch of us drove up to Sydney for a birthday weekend which included the Crows v Swans AFL game. About half way up the Hume Hwy, traffic slowed to a halt just before the ‘truck inspection stop’ (or whatever it’s called) and we thought there must have been an accident.

But no – a huge squad of coppers (inc cars, paddy wagons etc) were waving cars, trucks and buses into the inspection area and – with what seemed to be sniffer dogs – searching all the vehicles including the luggage hold of the bus.

We were waved past (the inspection area was pretty full) but I’ve never seen this happen before. Can anyone say whether it’s a regular thing these days? I presume they were searching for drugs?

I’ve been lead to believe it’s standard procedure whenever AFL thugs are expected to travel to the big smoke

geetee said :

My comment isn’t about ACT Policing but…

On Saturday, a bunch of us drove up to Sydney for a birthday weekend which included the Crows v Swans AFL game. About half way up the Hume Hwy, traffic slowed to a halt just before the ‘truck inspection stop’ (or whatever it’s called) and we thought there must have been an accident.

But no – a huge squad of coppers (inc cars, paddy wagons etc) were waving cars, trucks and buses into the inspection area and – with what seemed to be sniffer dogs – searching all the vehicles including the luggage hold of the bus.

We were waved past (the inspection area was pretty full) but I’ve never seen this happen before. Can anyone say whether it’s a regular thing these days? I presume they were searching for drugs?

Summernats time you often get “random” searches like this and also the cops going over the modifed cars and defecting ones that aren’t up to scratch.

geetee said :

My comment isn’t about ACT Policing but…

On Saturday, a bunch of us drove up to Sydney for a birthday weekend which included the Crows v Swans AFL game. About half way up the Hume Hwy, traffic slowed to a halt just before the ‘truck inspection stop’ (or whatever it’s called) and we thought there must have been an accident.

But no – a huge squad of coppers (inc cars, paddy wagons etc) were waving cars, trucks and buses into the inspection area and – with what seemed to be sniffer dogs – searching all the vehicles including the luggage hold of the bus.

We were waved past (the inspection area was pretty full) but I’ve never seen this happen before. Can anyone say whether it’s a regular thing these days? I presume they were searching for drugs?

I think it has to do with the delivery companies being put under the microscope because of the bad practices of one or two businesses a couple of months ago, to see how wide spread the problem may be.

helium said :

And can the Police focus on those tools doing 110 in an 80k zone please, seen 5 in the last week, those who deliberately run red lights, and those on mobile phones,

Ah come on – if nobody’s coming the other way, what’s wrong with going through a red light?

jrsubs said :

…..After being caught doing 61kph in a suburban through road (Stonehaven Cresc) that I assumed was 60k I have given up, and now switch off brain when driving at ludicrously low speeds simply because at such speeds it is impossible to keep concentrating. Greater danger to me and others but I can’t afford to lose my licence.

Streuth – you must be practically comatose in shared zones ….

HenryBG said :

helium said :

And can the Police focus on those tools doing 110 in an 80k zone please, seen 5 in the last week, those who deliberately run red lights, and those on mobile phones,

Ah come on – if nobody’s coming the other way, what’s wrong with going through a red light?

Well there is the fine, the points and potentially voiding your insurance…

Disobeying a traffic signal = 3 points + $282 (and in theory but not safe, you are to stop traffic lights at yellow light)

Using a handheld mobile phone while driving = 3 points + $280
Seatbelt not adjusted/fastened (driver) = 3 points + $293

and there are lots of fun and interesting fines that will never get enforced.

Drive on nature strip = $162
Drive on path = $162
Alight from moving vehicle = $102
Rider hold onto moving vehicle while riding bicycle = $69
Drive/tow vehicle with unsecured load = $348
Ride motorbike with animal on petrol tank = $102
Drive vehicle with TV/VDU image likely to distract (GPS ?) = $132
Lead animal while driving motor vehicle = $69
Use front or rear fog light when not permitted = $102
Give left change of direction signal (less than 5 seconds) = $162 + 2 points

and many more…

helium said :

Give left change of direction signal (less than 5 seconds) = $162 + 2 points

What’s so special about the left indicator?

helium said :

Give left change of direction signal (less than 5 seconds) = $162 + 2 points

This won’t be a problem, I never use my indicators.

geetee said :

My comment isn’t about ACT Policing but…

On Saturday, a bunch of us drove up to Sydney for a birthday weekend which included the Crows v Swans AFL game. About half way up the Hume Hwy, traffic slowed to a halt just before the ‘truck inspection stop’ (or whatever it’s called) and we thought there must have been an accident.

But no – a huge squad of coppers (inc cars, paddy wagons etc) were waving cars, trucks and buses into the inspection area and – with what seemed to be sniffer dogs – searching all the vehicles including the luggage hold of the bus.

We were waved past (the inspection area was pretty full) but I’ve never seen this happen before. Can anyone say whether it’s a regular thing these days? I presume they were searching for drugs?

I noticed that too. But when I went past, sometime between 2:30pm and 3pm, it appeared only cars were being inspected. I was waved past too, so I can’t comment on what the search was all about.

Been a while since I’ve seen so many cop cars in one place though.

helium said :

…Ride motorbike with animal on petrol tank = $102…

I’d like to see the coppers enforce that one after they’d just pulled over a murder of bikies.

geetee said :

My comment isn’t about ACT Policing but…

On Saturday, a bunch of us drove up to Sydney for a birthday weekend which included the Crows v Swans AFL game. About half way up the Hume Hwy, traffic slowed to a halt just before the ‘truck inspection stop’ (or whatever it’s called) and we thought there must have been an accident.

But no – a huge squad of coppers (inc cars, paddy wagons etc) were waving cars, trucks and buses into the inspection area and – with what seemed to be sniffer dogs – searching all the vehicles including the luggage hold of the bus.

We were waved past (the inspection area was pretty full) but I’ve never seen this happen before. Can anyone say whether it’s a regular thing these days? I presume they were searching for drugs?

was waved through as well, but did notice a fair number of cars that were pulled off the road (so to speak), plus also spotted a person sitting in chair with his head in his hands.

have never seen such a big operation at this location before, but I reckon it’s a great thing and should be done more often!

was a bit surprised to see an ACT registered cop car at this location.

G-Fresh said :

geetee said :

My comment isn’t about ACT Policing but…

On Saturday, a bunch of us drove up to Sydney for a birthday weekend which included the Crows v Swans AFL game. About half way up the Hume Hwy, traffic slowed to a halt just before the ‘truck inspection stop’ (or whatever it’s called) and we thought there must have been an accident.

But no – a huge squad of coppers (inc cars, paddy wagons etc) were waving cars, trucks and buses into the inspection area and – with what seemed to be sniffer dogs – searching all the vehicles including the luggage hold of the bus.

We were waved past (the inspection area was pretty full) but I’ve never seen this happen before. Can anyone say whether it’s a regular thing these days? I presume they were searching for drugs?

I’ve been lead to believe it’s standard procedure whenever AFL thugs are expected to travel to the big smoke

you’d believe anything then, given your disappointing generalization of AFL fans.

Holden Caulfield said :

helium said :

…Ride motorbike with animal on petrol tank = $102…

I’d like to see the coppers enforce that one after they’d just pulled over a murder of bikies.

In the immortal words of Norman May – Gold, gold, gold…

What’s the difference between a Harley and a Hoover?

You can change the dirtbag on a Hoover…

Seriously, WHERE exactly were these police who caught 840 drivers during Apr? I drive the roads of Canberra in peak hour for 30-40 minutes five days a week, and can honestly say I don’t recall seeing a single police car on the roads in ACT during the past month. I did see three of those pesky slow-down-when-you-see-them white vans. I do recall seeing a couple of police cars in Queanbeyan.

I actually got pulled off the road on Saturday. Apparently they were doing rapid checks but didn’t seem very interested in my unpaid parking tickets. All the action was with the sniffer dogs.

smont said :

Seriously, WHERE exactly were these police who caught 840 drivers during Apr? I drive the roads of Canberra in peak hour for 30-40 minutes five days a week, and can honestly say I don’t recall seeing a single police car on the roads in ACT during the past month. I did see three of those pesky slow-down-when-you-see-them white vans. I do recall seeing a couple of police cars in Queanbeyan.

So they are making it up?

smont said :

Seriously, WHERE exactly were these police who caught 840 drivers during Apr? I drive the roads of Canberra in peak hour for 30-40 minutes five days a week, and can honestly say I don’t recall seeing a single police car on the roads in ACT during the past month.

I see the nice red one every morning cruising around the big houses in Red Hill. Doubt if they do many traffic offences though.

There were quite a few cars being put on tilt trays when I went past later on Saturday so I assumed it had been a defective/unregistered vehicle check. Didn’t realise they had sniffer dogs. Maybe it was a bit of both.

Anna Key said :

smont said :

Seriously, WHERE exactly were these police who caught 840 drivers during Apr? I drive the roads of Canberra in peak hour for 30-40 minutes five days a week, and can honestly say I don’t recall seeing a single police car on the roads in ACT during the past month.

I see the nice red one every morning cruising around the big houses in Red Hill. Doubt if they do many traffic offences though.

The red ones are Protective Service vehicles, so there isn’t even Police in it.

Innovation said :

jrsubs said :

…..After being caught doing 61kph in a suburban through road (Stonehaven Cresc) that I assumed was 60k I have given up, and now switch off brain when driving at ludicrously low speeds simply because at such speeds it is impossible to keep concentrating. Greater danger to me and others but I can’t afford to lose my licence.

Streuth – you must be practically comatose in shared zones ….

In shared zones: a) they don’t go on for kilometres; b) the dangers are apparent and the environmnet is ‘busy’ with potential accidents and people so 10kph is a sensible speed and the brain is not numbed by nothingness and boredom.

Your response indicates I guess the same lack of comprehension of the reality of how people and their brains work that seems to be prevalent in road/traffic designers in Canberra. It’s a complex problem and not as simple as “slower is better”. If that were true we’d all be driving around at 1kph which, for obvious reasons, doesn’t happen. But where you set the limit has to take into account the negatives of slower speed; these are never discussed and the simplistic analysis doesn’t even know they exist.

helium said :

Speeding is dangerous and apart from the obvious reaction times and stopping distances, it is about expectation and speed differential. If every driver did the (same) speed limit then
- merging would be easier,
- changing lanes might be possible,
- people wouldn’t need to tailgate
- traffic would spread out and not bunch up,
- we could concentrate on traffic not avoiding idiots.

So can we all relax, just stick to the limit (plus or minus 5) and get there with less stress and fuss.
And can the Police focus on those tools doing 110 in an 80k zone please, seen 5 in the last week, those who deliberately run red lights, and those on mobile phones,

Do tell. Please do tell the poor fetus’ who like to drive up onramps and when ‘everyone’ else is (or wants to) doing 100Km/h on the parkway, this poor whiny (boo hoo) wants to put his foot down and make his Mazda 3 do 60km/h and if people get angry, he hunkers down in his widdle car and drives slower. Oh and for those of us trapped behind him, working hard to avoid accidents while figuring out how to merge with through traffic from Tuggers (heading north) = we’ll be sure to wave, smile and thank him as we work to avoid getting killed by his RAMPANT STUPID IDIOTIC behaviour.
So, tell us please how you plan to assist us all in getting these people to drive either to conditions or the speed limit??? am ALL ears!

Cotter road onramp to Parkway (heading north) is another corker where so many sometimes end up on the verge, since they have forgotten that driving at 50 – 80km/h down the ramp does not “merging make”. Never mind the dip%#@%s who come off Cotter road at Adelaide avenue and… get this – two cars = the one merging slows down, the one on Adelaide…. yep…. SLOWS DOWN… everyone wins right?

Sorry, but this tells me one thing – drivers are not able to properly drive anymore, as they’re not taught to. They’re taught to get their license, and that’s it. Also, I think it should become mandatory to have a review of your driving skills/abiilties in (all) conditions possible approximately 1 or 2 years after achieving P’s, then every 10 – 15 years following.

jrsubs said :

Innovation said :

jrsubs said :

…..After being caught doing 61kph in a suburban through road (Stonehaven Cresc) that I assumed was 60k I have given up, and now switch off brain when driving at ludicrously low speeds simply because at such speeds it is impossible to keep concentrating. Greater danger to me and others but I can’t afford to lose my licence.

Streuth – you must be practically comatose in shared zones ….

In shared zones: a) they don’t go on for kilometres; b) the dangers are apparent and the environmnet is ‘busy’ with potential accidents and people so 10kph is a sensible speed and the brain is not numbed by nothingness and boredom.

Your response indicates I guess the same lack of comprehension of the reality of how people and their brains work that seems to be prevalent in road/traffic designers in Canberra. It’s a complex problem and not as simple as “slower is better”. If that were true we’d all be driving around at 1kph which, for obvious reasons, doesn’t happen. But where you set the limit has to take into account the negatives of slower speed; these are never discussed and the simplistic analysis doesn’t even know they exist.

Rubbish. If you can’t drive slowly and still safely on a road even when you yourself can’t detect any visible distractions then you shouldn’t be driving at all. You may not agree with a particular speed limit but that is still no excuse for voluntarily switching your brain off.