31 July 2024

221 infringements handed out for poor driving over just one week

| Albert McKnight
Start the conversation
ACT Policing vehicle

ACT Policing are again disappointed by the number of traffic offenders. Photo: David Murtagh.

Police issued 221 traffic infringement notices for a variety of offences to drivers on the ACT’s roads last week.

ACT Policing said this included three infringements for drivers speeding at over 45 km/h above the posted speed limit.

One of these drivers had already been suspended from driving in the ACT due to unpaid fines before he was caught speeding at 158 km/h on the Monaro Highway at Symonston last week.

His vehicle was seized and the driver was immediately suspended from driving. He will appear in the ACT Magistrates Court at a later date.

Also, on Saturday evening (27 July), an operation targeting dangerous driving saw police issue eight vehicle defect notices and 18 infringement notices.

In this operation, police caught one provisional licence holder driving under the influence of alcohol, speeding at 44 km/h above the limit, as well as driving an unregistered and uninsured vehicle.

This driver was suspended from driving for 90 days and sent a court attendance notice.

READ ALSO Laura Haworth, not seen since 2008, may have met with ‘foul play’

“This is disappointing because obeying the road rules is easy; not driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is easy,” Sergeant Travis Mills from ACT Road Policing said.

“It’s also easy for police to be infuriated by this selfish and reckless behaviour because we don’t want to see any more needless trauma on our roads.

“We know the majority of drivers do the right thing, but rest assured, if you disobey the road rules, police will catch you and take appropriate action.”

Meanwhile, officers had been conducting roadside vehicle checks, as well as alcohol and drug screening on Athllon Drive, Greenway, on 22 July.

After only 12 roadside drug screening tests, two people were taken into custody for testing positive for illicit substances.

Six people have died due to crashes on the ACT’s roads so far this year.

Joshua Stewart, 19, died in January after the allegedly stolen vehicle he was travelling in was involved in a crash on the Barton Highway. A 14-year-old boy has been charged and is before the courts.

READ ALSO Third man allegedly assaulted during string of homophobic attacks

Tennis Canberra coach Alicia Celaya Jauregui was killed while riding her bike on Lady Denman Drive in March.

A flipped Toyota Camry was found in the middle of Adelaide Avenue in Yarralumla on 17 April, and a 15-year-old boy with critical injuries was found nearby. He was transported to hospital where he later died. Police recently confirmed he wasn’t the driver.

A 46-year-old male motorbike rider died after a single-vehicle crash on Brindabella Road on 21 April, and another was killed in a two-vehicle crash near the intersection of Sulwood and Athllon drives on 23 May.

Also, a 47-year-old died after a motorcycle and a light truck crashed near the intersection of Southern Cross Drive and Beaurepaire Crescent in Holt on 18 June.

Start the conversation

Daily Digest

Want the best Canberra news delivered daily? Every day we package the most popular Riotact stories and send them straight to your inbox. Sign-up now for trusted local news that will never be behind a paywall.

By submitting your email address you are agreeing to Region Group's terms and conditions and privacy policy.