ACT Policing puts drivers on notice; if you drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you will be caught – any time and any where.
ACT Policing will conduct targeted and random roadside alcohol and drug screening with high-visibility and unmarked patrols, throughout November, December and January as part of its multi-agency road safety strategy.
Officer in Charge Traffic Operations Station Sergeant Rod Anderson said with over 1,000 drivers apprehended for drink driving in the ACT so far this year, drivers should know by now that if they plan to drink, plan not to drive.
“Roadside alcohol or drug screening can happen anywhere, at any time and on any road – and any vehicle could be an unmarked RBT vehicle. If you think you can avoid police by driving home using back streets, think again – every police vehicle is equipped to be a mobile breath test station.”
“Alcohol and drug impaired drivers pose the highest risk on our roads; by removing these drivers we reduce the potential for serious injury or fatal collisions on our roads,” Station Sergeant Anderson said.
“Impaired drivers not only risk their lives and the lives of others, they face large fines, losing their license and imprisonment.”
During the same period last year, impaired driver targeting saw 42,231 roadside random breath tests, removing 301 drink-drivers from Canberra roads as well as 48 drivers detected under the influence of illicit drugs.
Impaired drivers are required to appear before the court and face fines of up to $1,650 (alcohol) and $1,100 (drugs) for first time offenders, imprisonment, or both. Repeat offenders face harsher consequences with fines up to $2,200 (alcohol) and $2,750 (drugs), imprisonment, or both. An offending driver can also face a loss of their driver’s licence for a period specified by the court.
Last month’s targeting of traffic control offences saw 218 drivers caught ignoring traffic controls. This includes motorists disobeying red/yellow lights and arrows, not stopping or giving way at intersections and not using a roundabout correctly.
“This included 122 Traffic Infringement Notices and 96 cautions, with the most common offence being failing to stop before a stop sign or stop line,” Station Sergeant Anderson said.
“If drivers sneak through a red light or roll through a stop sign there are consequences and they should think again. Failure by a motorist to obey traffic controls is an over-represented factor in collisions that result in serious injuries or fatalities.”
Loading ...
