3 June 2014

Better protection for road users

| Canfan
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Road users in the ACT will be better protected as legislation passed by the Legislative Assembly today introduced aggravating factors for drivers who put others in danger.

Attorney-General, Simon Corbell, today welcomed the passage of the Road Transport Legislation Amendment Act 2014, which targets high-risk driving behaviours.

“These changes address the risks posed by furious, reckless or dangerous driving that has the potential to cause death or serious injury,” Mr Corbell said.

“A driver convicted of furious, reckless or dangerous driving offences, where an aggravating factor is present, will face double the maximum penalty that would ordinarily apply.”

The aggravating offence factors introduced by the Act are:

· Failing to comply with a request or signal given by a police officer to stop the vehicle, including evading police.

· Driving while intoxicated by alcohol and/or drugs.

· Driving at a speed that exceeded the speed limit by more than 30%.

· Driving with a person younger than 17 years old in the vehicle.

· Driving in a way that puts at risk the safety of a vulnerable road user.

· Being a repeat offender.

“For the first time the Bill recognises vulnerable road users as a group. They include pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, riders of animals and users of motorised scooters,” Mr Corbell said.

“The new maximum penalty for the offence of furious, reckless or dangerous driving where an aggravating factor is present will be 200 penalty units, imprisonment for two years or both.

“In addition, an individual’s driver’s licence is automatically disqualified for at least 12 months. The maximum penalty for the offence without an aggravating factor in the Act remains at 100 penalty units, imprisonment for one year or both.” Mr Corbell said.

(Media Release Simon Corbell)

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VYBerlinaV8_is_back said :

Leon said :

When was the last time that the ACT Police charged anyone with furious, reckless or dangerous driving that put a vulnerable road user at risk?

Perhaps when they actually caught someone behaving this way?

They don’t always “catch” them. Mully removed himself from the gene pool in a spectacular fashion…

Leon said :

spleenville said :

Leon said :

When was the last time that the ACT Police charged anyone with furious, reckless or dangerous driving that put a vulnerable road user at risk?

I cant recall the precise charges but there’s a local resident on the Old Federal Highway who has done a stint for menacing cyclists.

That was Daniel West, who according to ABC News was charged by the NSW Police (not the ACT Police) and pleaded guilty to assault and intimidation (not furious, reckless or dangerous driving).

My question still awaits answer.

Here you Leon , it this will spell it out for you. 2 seconds of Google searching found this

Number of charges for dangerous and negligent driving
There is even a pretty graph broken down into areas
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/more-dangerous-driving-changes-in-canberras-north-centre-20140415-36pbm.html

spleenville said :

Leon said :

When was the last time that the ACT Police charged anyone with furious, reckless or dangerous driving that put a vulnerable road user at risk?

I cant recall the precise charges but there’s a local resident on the Old Federal Highway who has done a stint for menacing cyclists.

That was Daniel West, who according to ABC News was charged by the NSW Police (not the ACT Police) and pleaded guilty to assault and intimidation (not furious, reckless or dangerous driving).

My question still awaits answer.

Yeah, brilliant idea. Somebody caught slightly over the speed limit (Which I’m not condoning) is put into the same category as people drink/drug driving or being deliberately stupid and dangerous if they have somebody under 17 in the car? Do they even think before they introduce this nonsense?

spleenville said :

Leon said :

When was the last time that the ACT Police charged anyone with furious, reckless or dangerous driving that put a vulnerable road user at risk?

I cant recall the precise charges but there’s a local resident on the Old Federal Highway who has done a stint for menacing cyclists. It was probably more the waved machete than the “furious driving” however.

With many Canberra cyclists now arming themselves with rear facing, loop recording cameras, the first lot of incidents and charges can’t be too far away. (Google “Fly6” to get an idea)

He pushed a couple over as well as threatening to kill them by running them over if my memory serves me correctly.

Leon said :

When was the last time that the ACT Police charged anyone with furious, reckless or dangerous driving that put a vulnerable road user at risk?

I cant recall the precise charges but there’s a local resident on the Old Federal Highway who has done a stint for menacing cyclists. It was probably more the waved machete than the “furious driving” however.

With many Canberra cyclists now arming themselves with rear facing, loop recording cameras, the first lot of incidents and charges can’t be too far away. (Google “Fly6” to get an idea)

VYBerlinaV8_is_back said :

Leon said :

When was the last time that the ACT Police charged anyone with furious, reckless or dangerous driving that put a vulnerable road user at risk?

Perhaps when they actually caught someone behaving this way?

They have not caught anyone, so it doesn’t happen. Life is good!

VYBerlinaV8_is_back4:19 pm 04 Jun 14

Leon said :

When was the last time that the ACT Police charged anyone with furious, reckless or dangerous driving that put a vulnerable road user at risk?

Perhaps when they actually caught someone behaving this way?

When was the last time that the ACT Police charged anyone with furious, reckless or dangerous driving that put a vulnerable road user at risk?

Going to need some pretty fancy new cameras to detect this malarkey.

Nice to know that the peanuts in charge seem to suspect there’s a problem.
Disappointing to know that they’re too dim to address it effectively.

Tetranitrate2:00 am 04 Jun 14

Tooks said :

In Tuggeranong there would be two to three patrol cars on for 90k plus people. Similar numbers for other patrol zones. It is no wonder you never see them.

Are those numbers comparable to elsewhere? do the surrounding country new south wales areas tend to have more cops or is Canberra just under-policed overall?
I’ve been pulled over for RBT’s quite a few times in New South Wales and never in the ACT.

Tooks said :

Madam Cholet said :

Surely every other road user becomes vulnerable when the usual Canberra driving tool is out and about on the roads.

Driving to Woden from Tuggers just the other day I actually saw a police car stopping idiots who failed to see him sitting right on the side of the road. Good for him, but they really should be out more. It’s amazing how many they can catch if they actually go out.

In Tuggeranong there would be two to three patrol cars on for 90k plus people. Similar numbers for other patrol zones. It is no wonder you never see them.

Corbell cutting the police budget by $15 million over the next four years will pretty much guarantee that scenario.

Madam Cholet said :

Surely every other road user becomes vulnerable when the usual Canberra driving tool is out and about on the roads.

Driving to Woden from Tuggers just the other day I actually saw a police car stopping idiots who failed to see him sitting right on the side of the road. Good for him, but they really should be out more. It’s amazing how many they can catch if they actually go out.

In Tuggeranong there would be two to three patrol cars on for 90k plus people. Similar numbers for other patrol zones. It is no wonder you never see them.

Madam Cholet7:32 pm 03 Jun 14

Surely every other road user becomes vulnerable when the usual Canberra driving tool is out and about on the roads.

Driving to Woden from Tuggers just the other day I actually saw a police car stopping idiots who failed to see him sitting right on the side of the road. Good for him, but they really should be out more. It’s amazing how many they can catch if they actually go out.

I can’t see new legislation giving any protection to road users since plenty of drunks and people in police chases get minimal fines and disqualifications already. Not many, if any get the maximum penalty.

Another piece of uselessness by Attorney-General, Simon Corbell looking to be doing something but meaning nothing.

Maybe Corbell can look into protecting road users from a cop burning through red lights on Belconnen Way…not that he’ll be given the car keys again in a hurry, after collecting 4 cars in one go like that. Stupendous effort!

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