Police urge motorists improve their behaviour after poor week on ACT roads
ACT Policing is urging Canberrans to slow down and pay attention on ACT roads following numerous displays of poor driver behaviour over the past week.
Officers from ACT Policing’s Road Policing Team attended several multi-vehicle collisions along major arterial roads this week.
On Wednesday, 22 May 2024, police attended two crashes on the northbound lanes of the Tuggeranong Parkway, one involving four vehicles and the other involving seven. A third collision involving three vehicles occurred in the southbound lanes a short time later causing significant delays in both directions.
Thursday, 23 May 2024, saw another two multi-vehicle collisions along Drakeford Drive and the Tuggeranong Parkway, as well as a collision between a car and a motorbike where the motorcyclist was taken to hospital with serious injuries.
There were also a further three collisions in the northbound lanes of the Tuggeranong Parkway near the Arboretum between 5.15pm and 6.15pm yesterday evening (Friday, 24 May).
Concerningly, there were two instances of high range drink driving, with one driver returning a blood alcohol concentration of 0.153 on the Majura Parkway, Majura and the second driver returning a blood alcohol concentration of 0.140 detected on Isabella Drive, Gowrie.
In a further display of poor driver behaviour, a 47-year-old man was issued with an immediate suspension notice, suspending his licence for 90 days, and had his vehicle seized after he was caught travelling at 137km/h in an 80km/h zone. He was fined $1,841 and received a penalty of six demerit points.
Superintendent of Road and Proactive Policing, Brian Diplock, said despite the serious consequences of inattentive or impaired driving, people continued to take risks on ACT roads.
“Unfortunately, we have seen several collisions on our roads this week and people have been seriously injured. If you are getting behind the wheel, make sure you can clearly see where you’re going, pay attention to the road and leave enough room between you and the vehicle in front of you to allow you to stop in an emergency,” Superintendent Diplock said.
“We are seeing far too many incidents of people driving distracted, impaired, speeding, or not paying attention through intersections.
“Poor driving behaviour can have tragic consequences and the risks are multiplied if you’re speeding or driving impaired.
“Please consider others who are sharing the road with you. Drive to survive and make it home at the end of the day.”
MEDIA ENQUIRIES
POLICE MEDIA — (02) 5126 9070, act-police-media@afp.gov.au