20 August 2013

2000 idiots caught driving while using phone

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More than 2,000 people were caught on their mobile phones while driving during the past financial year, despite ACT police warnings.

Officer-in-Charge of Traffic Operations, Sergeant Mark Steel said that drivers more than double the risk of being involved in a road collision while using a mobile phone.

“The use of mobile phones while driving continues to be the primary cause of driver distraction with 2,026 drivers receiving Traffic Infringement Notices (TINs) during the last financial year,” Sergeant Steel said.

“There is a reason why it’s called driver distraction. Talking and texting while driving takes you away from what you are supposed to be doing — paying attention on the road and driving.”

“Some drivers continue to risk their lives and the lives of others by using their mobile phone when they drive. No phone call is that important to take while you are driving.”

“Driving is a skill that requires your full attention to safely control your vehicle and respond to events happening on the roads around you.”

Drivers caught using a handheld mobile phone while driving will be fined $337 and lose three demerit points.

ACT Policing is currently targeting driver distraction throughout the month of August as part of its multi-agency road safety strategy.

The strategy targets specific issues and behaviours which contribute to death and serious injuries on Canberra’s roads, with driver distraction among those concerns.

[Courtesy of ACT Policing]

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Can’t understand why anyone complains about fines. Obey the law and don’t get fined. worst drivers in Autralia in act. Why drivers can’t stay in right lane when turning a corner is a mystery. Have never seen it so consistently as in act. Wish police would catch the hoons screaming around Gungahlin streets at night and confiscate their cars and bikes. Need more patrols on roads.

Deref said :

James-T-Kirk said :

Cool…

2000 x $337 = $6.7M

All for doing nothing.

That should help pay for another couple of Skywhales!

🙂

Imagine how many skywhales they could buy if they caught even half of the phone-using morons!

Please don’t encourage them! My eyes can’t handle and more titties….

Very Busy said :

This figure of only 2000 drivers being caught pretty much highlights the fact that it is highly unlikely that you will get caught if you use your mobile phone while driving. That equates to an average of only 5.5 drivers per day being caught. I would see at least that many on a 15 minute drive anywhere in Canberra.

Until ALL the road rules are properly enforced over a long period we will continue to see a huge number of Canberra drivers blatantly ignore the obligations that go with holding a drivers license.

Until we have a surveillance system that rivals that of Ingsoc, you mean? I think most Australians would rather live without that, even if it means a few selfish socialites go unpunished.

Thanks #1 poster for making the point. Another massive fail. Btw, no foglight distractions reported.

Gungahlin Al said :

Icepoet said :

James-T-Kirk said :

Cool…

2000 x $337 = $6.7M

All for doing nothing.

That should help pay for another couple of Skywhales!

🙂

Huh?

2000 x 337 = $674,000.

Not quite the $6.7 million you suggested.

Maybe Jame T Kirk was doing that maths at warp speed? You know how that messes with the space-time continuum…

Yet he wants more Skywhales, must be messed up bad…

bundah said :

Deref said :

James-T-Kirk said :

Cool…

2000 x $337 = $6.7M

All for doing nothing.

That should help pay for another couple of Skywhales!

🙂

Imagine how many skywhales they could buy if they caught even half of the phone-using morons!

Well the answer would be 11. Where can I collect my prize?

Assuming, of course, it was approx $3.3m which it is not..

James-T-Kirk3:55 pm 20 Aug 13

thebrownstreak69 said :

Good to see the focus for traffic law enforcement widening a bit. Next, let’s see some stats for TINs for tailgating, failure to indicate, lane hogging, aggressive behaviour, etc.

Or parking in front of a pedestrian drossing, while the missus drops in to get the milk from the local shop…..

Gungahlin Al3:52 pm 20 Aug 13

Icepoet said :

James-T-Kirk said :

Cool…

2000 x $337 = $6.7M

All for doing nothing.

That should help pay for another couple of Skywhales!

🙂

Huh?

2000 x 337 = $674,000.

Not quite the $6.7 million you suggested.

Maybe Jame T Kirk was doing that maths at warp speed? You know how that messes with the space-time continuum…

thebrownstreak693:49 pm 20 Aug 13

Good to see the focus for traffic law enforcement widening a bit. Next, let’s see some stats for TINs for tailgating, failure to indicate, lane hogging, aggressive behaviour, etc.

Deref said :

James-T-Kirk said :

Cool…

2000 x $337 = $6.7M

All for doing nothing.

That should help pay for another couple of Skywhales!

🙂

Imagine how many skywhales they could buy if they caught even half of the phone-using morons!

Well the answer would be 11. Where can I collect my prize?

James-T-Kirk3:41 pm 20 Aug 13

Icepoet said :

James-T-Kirk said :

Cool…

2000 x $337 = $6.7M

All for doing nothing.

That should help pay for another couple of Skywhales!

🙂

Huh?

2000 x 337 = $674,000.

Not quite the $6.7 million you suggested.

Oppsies – Decimal out of place – Perhaps I can apply for the job of opposition treasurer?

James-T-Kirk said :

Cool…

2000 x $337 = $6.7M

All for doing nothing.

That should help pay for another couple of Skywhales!

🙂

Huh?

2000 x 337 = $674,000.

Not quite the $6.7 million you suggested.

James-T-Kirk said :

Cool…

2000 x $337 = $6.7M

All for doing nothing.

That should help pay for another couple of Skywhales!

🙂

Imagine how many skywhales they could buy if they caught even half of the phone-using morons!

ToastFliesRED said :

Ok I finally have to admit total confusion on the matter (though I do know what is meant). If, as the statement from ACT Policing states, we “lose” three demerit points if caught using a handheld mobile phone while driving does this not imply that we have 12 demerit points (if holding an unrestricted license with no infractions within the relevant period) so when we get to zero we lose our license. So how does this compare with when having accumulated 12 demerit points we lose out license? Surely the statement should say “fined $337 and gain three demerit points” or “fined $337 and lose three merit points”? Or am I missing the point?

Just accept it that whilst I’m sure technically you gain demerit points, it’s become socially known as losing points.

James-T-Kirk3:22 pm 20 Aug 13

Ohhh- Ant the bit I really love is that CB radios are specifically excluded.

http://www.legislation.act.gov.au/ni/2013-329/current/pdf/2013-329.pdf

Page 265 – Australian Road Rules – February 2012 version

“mobile phone does not include a CB radio or any other two-way radio;”

I love that we can all still chat away merrily on the CB, without incurring any penality.

Just how does that work?????

ToastFliesRED2:49 pm 20 Aug 13

Ok I finally have to admit total confusion on the matter (though I do know what is meant). If, as the statement from ACT Policing states, we “lose” three demerit points if caught using a handheld mobile phone while driving does this not imply that we have 12 demerit points (if holding an unrestricted license with no infractions within the relevant period) so when we get to zero we lose our license. So how does this compare with when having accumulated 12 demerit points we lose out license? Surely the statement should say “fined $337 and gain three demerit points” or “fined $337 and lose three merit points”? Or am I missing the point?

James-T-Kirk2:41 pm 20 Aug 13

Cool… 2000 x $337 = $6.7M

All for doing nothing. That should help pay for another couple of Skywhales!

🙂

Not to defend the behaviour of those caught doing wrong, but tracking traffic offences that involve fines over the course of a financial year seems a rather blatant implication for the focus on revenue raising rather than safety.

This figure of only 2000 drivers being caught pretty much highlights the fact that it is highly unlikely that you will get caught if you use your mobile phone while driving. That equates to an average of only 5.5 drivers per day being caught. I would see at least that many on a 15 minute drive anywhere in Canberra.

Until ALL the road rules are properly enforced over a long period we will continue to see a huge number of Canberra drivers blatantly ignore the obligations that go with holding a drivers license.

Just wondering if the responses to last month’s speeding blitz could be applied here as well:

http://the-riotact.com/671-drivers-caught-speeding-in-july/111148

bigred said :

Well that project failed. The indicator of failure is they managed to catch over 600 people who had decided the rules didn’t apply to them.

aussiebear said :

I’m tired of this type of response – if so many people speed perhaps the limits need reviewing??

milkman said :

So how many people died or were seriously injured during July?

Maybe speeding doesn’t have the correlation with road trauma the authorities claim. Perhaps the speed limits need to be reviewed?

I wonder how many of the TINs were issued for speeding less than 10km/h over the limit?

We need a new approach.

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