It seems ACT Policing’s July campaign paid off.
ACT Policing caught more than 670 drivers speeding on Canberra roads during the month of July as part of its multi-agency road safety strategy.
Police issued a total of 502 Traffic Infringement Notices (TINs) for speeding and 169 cautions.
Two drivers were caught travelling more than 45km/h over the speed limit and both received fines of $1,811 plus the loss of six demerit points.
A 21-year-old provisional male driver from Dunlop was caught travelling at 130km/h in an 80km/h speed zone on Ginninderra Drive, while a 22-year-old male driver from Harrison was caught on Caswell Drive travelling at 141km/h in a 90km/h speed zone.
It was the second speeding offence this year for the Harrison man whose excuse for speeding was that he was ‘tired’.
Some 268 drivers were caught travelling more than 15km/h but less than 30km/h over the speed limit.
Officer-in-Charge of Traffic Operations Sergeant Mark Steel said drivers should have the message by now that speeding is dangerous.
“People who believe that it’s okay to travel at excessive speeds on our roads need to realise the danger that they are putting themselves and other road-users in by their behavior,” Sergeant Steel said.
“This type of irresponsible act will not be tolerated by the community or ACT Policing. Drivers need to remember speed affects their ability to stop their car to prevent collisions.”
“Drivers who willfully speed were gambling with their own lives, the lives of other drivers and passengers, and the lives of children, pedestrians and cyclists.
Sergeant Steel said he was also concerned by the 110 motorists that were caught speeding in school zones during the month of July.
“Speeding in school zones exposes some of the most vulnerable people in our community to the greatest risk; there is no excuse.”
“During the first week of term three, police conducted speed testing at 67 schools (49 per cent) throughout the ACT as part of our goal to visit every school this term.”
Fines for speeding range from a minimum of $203 and the loss of one demerit point to over $1,800 and the loss of six demerit points for each offence. The courts may also disqualify a driver from holding or obtaining a drivers licence in serious cases.