ACT leads way with zero holiday road toll

ACT Policing shared a zero road toll with the Northern Territory for the Christmas-New Year holidays, but the national result for the same period showed no improvement.

ACT and the NT were the only jurisdictions with zero road deaths for the period December 23 – January 3, according to the latest Australia-New Zealand Policing Advisory Agency (ANZPAA) national results. Eight road deaths were recorded in South Australia, and seven in NSW as the two highest readings contributing to the national toll of 28.

Over the same period, ACT Policing conducted 10,594 Random Breath Tests, with 32 positive results returned.

Police also issued 149 Traffic Infringement Notices (TINs) for speeding, 16 for seatbelt offences, and 25 for mobile phone offences. There were a further 51 TINs issued for driver’s licence-related offences, including failing to carry a licence or driving whilst disqualified.

One vehicle was seized by police for a burnout offence.

The Acting Officer in Charge of Traffic Operations, Sergeant Tracey Duck, said that no deaths on ACT roads over the holiday break was a good outcome for the territory but the number of drivers detected speeding and drink-driving was a disappointment.

“Rest assured, police will continue to maintain a high-profile presence on ACT roads so drivers who flout the law with risk-taking behaviour will get caught,” Sergeant Duck said.