National Road Safety Week wrap
Police have issued 207 infringement notices, which included detecting 43 unregistered vehicles, 37 uninsured vehicles, and 46 speeding offences, as part of targeted traffic operations.
ACT Policing conducted operations for National Road Safety Week (14-21 May, 2023) with a high-visibility enforcement operation on Canberra’s roads continuing until 24 May.
National Road Safety Week got off to a bad start for four drivers, who faced court on Monday, 15 May for a range of offences.
Of the 46 speeding offences, three drivers were fined for exceeding the posted speed limit by more than 45km/h, with one driver identified driving an Audi S3 at 155km/h on Yarra Glen, Deakin in a posted 80km/h zone after picking up a pizza. The driver was issued a $1,800 fine and six demerit points.
During this operation, police also conducted 642 random breath tests, with two drivers returning a positive result, as well as 15 roadside drug tests, with three drivers returning positive results.
One of these, a 30-year-old Isabella Plains man, was arrested about 9.10am on Tuesday, 23 May after his vehicle was identified as unregistered by Automatic Numberplate Recognition System (ANPR).
Police were about to conduct a traffic stop on the man’s vehicle when the driver stopped and fled on foot. After a short foot pursuit, he was arrested, with subsequent checks revealing the man was subject to a First Instance Warrant for failing to appear before court in relation to a drug driving matter.
The driver provided an oral fluid sample which returned a positive result for methamphetamine. He has been charged with drug driving, unlicensed driving, driving while suspended, and drug possession.
This vehicle was one of many identified as part of a joint ANPR operation between ACT Road Policing and the Proactive Intervention and Diversion Team on Drakeford Drive between Barr Smith Drive and Athllon Drive.
Across a two hour period, ANPR technology identified 49 alerts – vehicles subject to alerts were stopped and a range of actions taken; from issuing of infringement notices through to reminding drivers of vehicle registration/insurance and driver licencing requirements, and having unregistered vehicles re-registered before continuing.
Officer in Charge of Road Policing, Detective Acting Inspector Paul Hutcheson said overall police were happy with driver behaviour during the targeted operations.
“While there were some drivers who came to police attention, it was encouraging that we identified very few impaired drivers, while it’s also pleasing that we saw no collisions involving serious injuries,” Detective Acting Inspector Hutcheson said.
“I’d like to remind the community that while National Road Safety Week has concluded, road safety is always a priority for police, particularly with the Reconciliation Day long weekend coming up this weekend.”
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