26 April 2020

'Disgusting': ACT Policing slam massive increase in high-range speeding

| Dominic Giannini
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Detective Station Sergeant Marcus Boorman has said it is disgusting that motorists would endanger the lives of the public by continuing to speed on emptier roads. Photo: File.

Speeding drivers have been put on notice by ACT Policing after consistent reports of Canberrans driving well over the speed limit on emptier roads.

Examples include a 33-year-old woman driving more than 70 km/h over the speed limit along Horse Park Drive, and a 25-year-old man caught travelling at 200 km/h – 110 km/h over the speed limit – without ever having held a licence.

Officer in Charge of Traffic Operations Detective Station Sergeant Marcus Boorman called the high-range speeding incidents “disgusting”.

“It is idiotic, it is irresponsible and, worst of all, it is dangerous,” Detective Station Sergeant Boorman said.

“This month alone, we have seen an increase of three to 11 drivers caught travelling more than 45 km/h over the posted speed limit compared with the same period last year.

“When you are behind the wheel of a vehicle, you are not just responsible for your own safety and those in the vehicle with you, but the safety of other road users. It is that blatant disregard for the safety of others that make these incidents so infuriating.”

The number of drivers caught speeding between 30 and 45 km/h over the limit has almost quadrupled from seven to 26 when compared with the same period last year.

“This is unbelievable. There is simply no excuse for speeding,” Detective Station Sergeant Boorman said.

From Thursday, 16 April to Sunday, 19 April, a single police traffic team issued 43 infringements for speeding by 30 km/h or less and another nine to people exceeding the speed limit by more than 45 km/h.

“Some of the speeds are just staggering, as is the stupidity of the drivers involved in these incidents,” Detective Station Sergeant Boorman said.

Although double demerit points will not be in force over the Anzac Day long weekend, ACT Policing has ramped up their operations and will target speeding motorists.

There will be zero tolerance for drivers found doing the wrong thing, Detective Station Sergeant Boorman said.

“I know there are fewer cars on the road at the moment, but that does not give a driver or rider the right to turn a public road into their own personal race track,” he said.

“The faster you go, the harder you hit, and at high speed, a collision is more likely to have tragic consequences.

“Our message is clear – slow down, do not speed, drive to the conditions, and help us save lives.”

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Queanbeyanite5:09 pm 30 Apr 20

Tailgating is way down, there are fewer cars to tailgate.

rationalobserver10:10 am 27 Apr 20

I feel for the cops and can only imagine how frustrated they must be, but I also feel that some of that frustration should be directed towards our elected leaders and the courts who too often let these idiots off with a caution.
Let the punishment fit the crime. If the punishment is weak (as it so often is), then that is interpreted by offenders that it’s not really a serious issue.

Agreed. I think it is time for the “legal” constraints on accident and driving offences reporting be removed so that we can see what is really happening on our roads in real time. No need to assign blame straight away, just tell us what happened so we learn from it and don’t repeat their mistakes!

Auction the car, one year licence cancellation and fined $1000.00. He/she can catch Light Rail/Bus/Taxi/Walk/Pushbike for one year. He/she may think twice of doing it again.

Michelle Rose9:39 pm 26 Apr 20

Coming from interstate I have been taken aback how speeding is the norm in Canberra. Everyone seems super aggressive and think they are entitled to speed and tailgate others. I regularly see drivers approach roundabouts at 80km without pausing to give way before entering the intersection. Only yesterday a motorcyclist overtaking a truck on the wrong side of the road missed me by seconds. I don’t understand the mentality. For god’s sake slow down and listen to what the police are trying to tell you. A few more minutes will not matter but may mean you and others make it home alive.

Not sure what you mean by “pausing to give way”? The results would have been obvious (and traffic-jamming) if they failed to give way at the roundabout. Roundabouts are a means to improve the flow of traffic and avoid/lessen the stop-start nature found at other intersections.

The Police could look at doing something to counteract how easy it is to avoid them using apps. Mobile, unmarked cars that actually don’t go to the same spots all the time. Maybe even aerial drones.
Placing a fixed speed camera on the road just slows traffic for that one spot, and reassures everyone they can speed everywhere else.

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