12 March 2013

P-plater takes a crack at the double tonne

| johnboy
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A probationary licensed driver who was detected driving at 169km/h in a 100km/h speed zone on the Monaro Highway, was one of 66 Traffic Infringement Notices (TINs) issued for speeding over the Centenary Day long weekend by ACT Policing.

The Gordon man, checked at 69km/h over the posted speed limit was issued with an $1811 fine for the offence and the loss of six demerit points.

ACT Policing also conducted 956 random breath tests over the three day long weekend with six drivers returning positive readings.

Officer-In-Charge Traffic Operations, Sergeant Rod Anderson said it was disappointing that despite continued warnings and campaigns by ACT Policing some drivers continue to ignore the messages relating to the dangers of speeding and drink driving.

“It’s appalling that both speeding and drink drivers have such disregard for the law and are clearly willing to put not only their own lives at risk but also those of their passengers and other road users,” Sergeant Anderson said.

“The message is simple if you breach the road rules and place your own life or the lives of others in danger ACT Policing will catch you.”

Meanwhile, a 25-year-old Campbell woman recorded a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) reading of 0.117 at the intersection of Belconnen Way and Coulter Drive on Friday, March 8.
ACT Policing and NSW Police patrolled arterial roads over the Centenary Day long weekend, with a focus on high-risk behaviours such as speeding, drink-driving, failing to wear seatbelts, and driver fatigue.

[Courtesy ACT Policing]

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OpenYourMind12:47 pm 13 Mar 13

These are all petty crimes. The police need to be out in force to catch the scofflaw non-dismounting cyclists.

Felix the Cat11:41 am 13 Mar 13

tim_c said :

ACT Policing and NSW Police patrolled arterial roads over the Centenary Day long weekend, with a focus on high-risk behaviours such as … driver fatigue.

I’ve often wondered how exactly they test for driver fatigue? Do they pull you over, tell you about the Centenary Celebrations for a while in a low monotone voice and see how long it takes you to fall asleep?

There are all sorts of rules and regulations for truck drivers so they don’t spend too many hours driving but you can drive a car (or a motorbike) around Australia a dozen consecutive times (or more, if you want) and that’s perfectly acceptable. Car drivers and motorbike riders don’t get fatigued apparently, only truckies.

I saw a very odd sight this morning, going past Brindabella Bus. Park (aka Airport). A blue sedan car with hidden cop lights in its front had stopped a white hyundai-ish car, the occupants of which were standing outside their car, and a female appeared to be having a very active meltdown. Whether it was at the cop (in his car, writing tickets or something) or her partner, I’m not sure.

Cannot imagine how they got up enough speed in that area to be booked though, it’s between the two small roundabouts, speed is 70 km/hr there. And since the only crimes in the ACT are speed, I’m puzzled. Maybe it was a mobile phone use crime.

p996911turbo10:21 am 13 Mar 13

MonarchRepublic said :

Where is the P-plater (provisional) mentioned in the release? I see they have made special mention of a Probationary driver (a driver returning to driving following a court imposed period of driving suspension)…

It’s actually the title of the ACT Police Media Release:
http://www.police.act.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/act/2013/march/p-plater-caught-69kmh-over-speed-limit.aspx

But it has been pissing me off too. Was this driver a P-plater with a provisional licence (not probationary)? Was he a probational licence holder (without a P plate)? Or was he a p-plater on a probationary licence (which I didn’t think was possible)?

It’s a bit worrying if the Police aren’t getting it right…

ACT Policing and NSW Police patrolled arterial roads over the Centenary Day long weekend, with a focus on high-risk behaviours such as … driver fatigue.

I’ve often wondered how exactly they test for driver fatigue? Do they pull you over, tell you about the Centenary Celebrations for a while in a low monotone voice and see how long it takes you to fall asleep?

“The message is simple if you breach the road rules and place your own life or the lives of others in danger ACT Policing will catch you.”

What a load of utter crap. Now come on Mr Anderson, you’ve been running with that line for years and it is taken by Canberra drives for what it is – crap. Enforcement of the road rules in this town is a joke. The odd blitz here and there and the “special road rule month” do absolutely nothing to encourage motorists to adhere to the road rules. The focus on speed an drink driving while neglecting to pay any attention to the other road rules has conditioned widespread apathy amongst drivers in Canberra. You need to lobby for resources to allow for a much greater police presence in both marked and unmarked vehicles with a focus on ALL of the road rules and only then, and over several years, will you change driver behaviour.

MonarchRepublic9:09 am 13 Mar 13

Where is the P-plater (provisional) mentioned in the release? I see they have made special mention of a Probationary driver (a driver returning to driving following a court imposed period of driving suspension)…

so we have a new long weekend then!! I thought it was the Canberra Day long weekend.

anyway another p plater that will hopefully learn their lesson….maybe

reminds me of the two loser p platers that zoomed past me on the Hume Highway at around 830pm on Sat night. I caught up to them, even after a stop for coffee, somewhere around Goulburn. it just so happens, that two cop cars caught them first!!

According to the ACT Rego – he will lose his licence – as a probationary driver who has accumulated 2 or more demerits in a 3 year period, the licence will be suspended for 6 months
http://www.rego.act.gov.au/infringements/infringedemerit.htm

In pretty much every other jurisdiction that would be an immediate loss of licence on the spot. But not in the ACT?

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