15 November 2022

Woman fined almost $600, four demerit points, for filming Nicholls crash while driving

| Claire Fenwicke
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Woman filming in car

A woman was caught filming a crash scene in Nicholls while driving. Photo: ACT Policing.

Police have released footage of the moment a woman decided to take rubbernecking to the next level – filming a crash scene on her phone while driving.

Road Policing officers had been working in a closed lane of the Barton Highway, Nicholls, at 8:25 am last Friday (11 November) following a collision between a car and a bicycle earlier that morning.

Warning lights were flashing on police vehicles, along with a message board reminding other motorists to slow to 40 km/h.

Officers then saw a woman driving her vehicle holding her mobile phone towards her windscreen in her left hand, with the moment captured by police in-car cameras.

When police contacted the driver later that day, she confirmed she had been filming the crash site.

She’ll be fined $598 and cop four demerit points for using her mobile device while driving, for purposes other than making a phone call.

ACT Road Policing Officer in Charge, Acting Inspector Ken Williams, said this incident was the latest in a “horror year” on our roads where the safety of multiple people was put at risk.

“This driver showed little regard for their own safety, as well as that of police, other first responders, and the people involved in a collision,” he said.

READ ALSO After a horror year on the Territory’s roads, what will a dangerous driving inquiry do?

Unfortunately, Act Insp Williams said this wasn’t an isolated incident.

“Police see it far too often when attending collisions,” he said.

“You shouldn’t have to think about it. It’s just common sense to take extra care when driving past hazards on the roadways such as collision scenes.

“This is a driver not paying attention. Inattention can lead to a second collision, which can result in death or serious injury.”

Incorrect use of a mobile device while driving to make a phone call attracts a lower penalty of $498 and three demerit points.

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