Police will be targeting motorists who put the lives of vulnerable road users at risk. Photo: File.
Motorcyclists, cyclists, children and pedestrians are being put in the spotlight as ACT Policing targets drivers who put vulnerable road users at risk.
As part of its traffic focus for March, Officer in Charge of Traffic Operations, Detective Station Sergeant Marcus Boorman said police are asking motorists to remember the road is a shared space.
Police will be actively targeting the safe passing of cyclists, with vehicles required to remain a minimum of one metre away from a cyclist in speed zones at or below 60 km/h, and one-and-a-half metres in speed zones above 60 km/h.
“Road users should treat cyclists as if they were any other vehicle, including giving way when required and keeping a safe distance,” Detective Station Sergeant Boorman said.
“Police have been conducting, and will continue to conduct, targeted operations focused on the safe passing of cyclists. The next cyclist you pass could be a police officer,” he warned.
Detective Station Sergeant Boorman said motorcyclists, cyclists, children and pedestrians are all considered vulnerable road users as they do not have the same protection as a car during a collision.
“It’s important to remember the road is a shared space, regardless of how you use the road,” he said.
“Road safety is everyone’s responsibility. We ask that all road users be alert to their surroundings, be vigilant and concentrate when travelling on our roads.
“I’d ask drivers to pay particular attention in and around school zones. Children are some of our most vulnerable road users, and their unpredictability exposes them to high risk around traffic.”
The joint road safety campaign with the Justice and Community Safety Directorate forms part of the ACT Road Safety Strategy 2011-20, which takes a Vision Zero approach to road safety.
Throughout the year, the multi-agency road safety strategy targets specific issues and behaviours which contribute to death and serious injuries on Canberra’s roads, with driver distraction among those concerns.
You can report illegal road user behaviour to police via Crime Stoppers ACT website or by phoning 1800 333 000.
Loading ...
