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Canberra Today 25°/28° | Friday, March 29, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Police frustrated by Canberrans lead feet

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JUST two weeks after ACT Policing warned motorists of the dangers of speeding, eight drivers have been caught for high-range speeding.

So far during July, ACT Policing has issued eight Traffic Infringement Notices (TINs) for high-range speeding, at more than 45km/h over the sign-posted limit, and 22 TINs for speeding between 30km/h and 45km/h over.

Yesterday, Tuesday 19 July, a 23-year-old man was caught driving 52km/h over the speed limit (132km/h in a sign-posted 80km/h zone) at about 3.30pm on Ginninderra Drive, Kaleen. When stopped by police, the man explained he had been in a hurry to get home. Police issued the driver with a Traffic Infringement Notice for speeding, which carries a fine of $1821 and six demerit points.

On Tuesday 12 July 2016, a 28-year-old Queanbeyan man was caught driving a car 86km/h over the speed limit (186km/h in a sign-posted 100km/h zone) at about 1.55pm while weaving dangerously through traffic on Majura Parkway, Majura. Police conducted a traffic stop and identified the man as having a suspended Provisional ACT driver licence. The man eventually admitted to speeding because he was running late to a job interview. The man was arrested and taken to the ACT Watch House where he was charged with offences relating to dangerous driving and driving when suspended. He will face the ACT Magistrates Court next month (August 2016).

On Sunday 10 July, a 22-year-old male motorcyclist was caught riding 69km/h over the speed limit (159km/h in a sign-posted 90km/h zone) at about 1pm on Caswell Drive, Kambah. Police conducted a traffic stop and found that the motorcycle was unregistered and uninsured. Police issued the driver with a Traffic Infringement Notice for speeding, which carries a fine of $1821 and six demerit points. Police also issued Traffic Infringement Notices for driving an unregistered and uninsured vehicle and seized the vehicle’s number plates.

Station Sergeant Susan Ball, Officer-in-Charge of Traffic Operations said she was frustrated and disappointed with the behaviour of these drivers.

“Most drivers in Canberra are doing the right thing. The fact that one, let alone eight, drivers would disregard the safety of others and speed to such an extreme on our roads is just disappointing.”

“One of those drivers eventually admitted to police that they were speeding because they were late for a job interview. Imagine how easy it would have been to simply call ahead an explain that you were running late – much easier than having to explain that you’d missed the interview because you were caught by police speeding more than 80km/h over the limit.”

‘Driving is a privilege, not a right. Unfortunately some drivers just aren’t getting the message. Police are committed to removing those drivers from our roads and keeping others road users safe,’ Station Sergeant Ball said.

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Thank you,

Ian Meikle, editor

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