No offence for slow drivers in ACT despite WA dawdler copping a fine

There is no specific offence for slow drivers in the ACT but other traffic infringements may be applied.

Police in Western Australia have been praised for taking the unusual step of fining a slow driver but this action is unlikely to be repeated in the ACT where there is no specific offence for driving under the speed limit.

Social media has come to life with comments in support of the WA traffic police’s action earlier this month in fining the driver of a Toyota LandCruiser for travelling 28 km/h under the 100 km/h speed limit on the Mitchell Freeway.

“Driving 28kmh under the speed limit on the freeway causes frustration which results in bad decisions which results in accidents. Can’t do the limit stay off the freeway!” said the tweet from WA Police Traffic while releasing news of the $50 fine, which didn’t attract any demerit point penalty.

“Yay finally hope this is going to be the start of more to come,” commented one Twitter user. “Well done WA Police. I never thought I would see the day this would be enforced,” remarked another.

“Should be the same on all roads. Slow drivers cause people to take risks, which results in accidents,” commented another person.

Driving 28kmh under the speed limit on the freeway causes frustration which results in bad decisions which results in accidents. Can't do the limit stay off the freeway! #TEG3 pic.twitter.com/JvWDudvWrP

— WA Police Traffic (@WAPoliceTraffic) January 14, 2019

With slow drivers – particularly in the right lane – being a common complaint of Canberra drivers, Region Media asked ACT Policing whether anyone had been fined for slow driving in the ACT.

“There is no specific offence for driving under the speed limit in the ACT. However, there are other traffic infringements that may be applied,” a spokesperson for ACT Policing said.

“ACT Policing encourages people to observe the speed limit and drive to the conditions. If people are comfortable driving a couple of km/h under, we’d encourage that.

“People driving significantly under the speed limit may be considered a hazard,” the spokesperson said.

“ACT Policing encourages drivers using 80km/h and above zones that are dual lanes to stay in the left lane and avoid causing obstruction to other drivers.”

Do you think slow drivers should be fined in the ACT? Are speeding drivers a far bigger problem here? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.