28 January 2011

Focus on speeding

28 January 2011 | By johnboy

ACT Policing will commence a zero tolerance traffic enforcement campaign during February to detect motorists speeding on Canberra’s roads.

This will be the first of a series of month long campaigns by ACT Policing, targeting the serious traffic offences that contribute to death and serious injuries on Canberra’s roads. The campaign is conducted in cooperation with ACT road safety authorities. Motorists across the ACT will see variable message boards on the roadside and other media advertisements which will remind people of the dangers of speeding.

ACT Policing commenced these targeting campaigns in the second half of 2010. In that period, the ACT recorded three road fatalities with no fatalities recorded in the last three months of the year. Police will continue with these campaigns in 2011 to keep both our fatal and serious injury road tolls as low as possible.

Traffic Operations Superintendent Mark Colbran said that the ACT has already recorded two fatalities in 2011. Speed is believed to be a contributing factor in one of these fatalities.

“We are committed to reducing the ACT road toll and will continue to remind drivers that speeding is a major contributor to fatal collisions and serious injuries,” he said.

“Speeding will cost you, financially and otherwise.”

The campaign comes only weeks before back-to-school where motorists will be reminded to slow down for 40km school zones.

Fines for speeding range from a minimum of $157 and the loss of one demerit point to over $1,800 and the loss of six demerit points for each offence.

[Courtesy ACT Policing]

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Tooks1:00 pm 03 Feb 11

Now, if the speeding issue is so bad, tell me how many accidents you see on Hindmarsh drive with everyone cruising along happily at 100Kp/h

I’ve seen dozens of accidents on Hindmarsh Drive. Bad example.

I agree with him! How many accidents do you see where someone’s been doing 10-20k/h over the limit, crashed and died with no other contributing factors? (IE, inclement weather, alcohol, bald tyres on the car, etc)

So if speeding isn’t the only contributing factor, it’s not important?

The average everyday driver that does 10-20k/h over the limit puts little at risk more than his fuel gauge.

And you base this on what? There are thousands of accidents a year in the ACT. How do you know many of them aren’t caused by ‘minor’ speeding?

Most of the accidents I read about have always involved drunken, underage louts in their folks car with no seatbelts and they’ve gone and had a rather lousy argument with some of the local, more aged flora.

You mustn’t read about many then. And again, you’ve made a baseless comment. How many fatalaties last year involved drunken underage (underage for what?) louts driving their parent’s car?

The only thing that makes speeding a good target for police is the ease of policing it and how they can prove it. After all, how can you prove someone wasn’t indicating at a intersection/negotiation point? Yet it carries a 3 demerit point penalty and a similar fine here in the ACT.

How do you prove it? By watching them.

lobster12:08 pm 03 Feb 11

Jono said :

troll-sniffer said :

…even Blind Freddy can see that the relationship between the lower road tolls and the emphasis on speeding is tenuous at best, and probably counter-productive at worst…

Clueless. Absolutely breathtakingly clueless.

Well, you have put forward a very well thought through repsonse and stated your facts clearly.
Are you a master debater?

Lardman12:48 am 02 Feb 11

Jono said :

troll-sniffer said :

…even Blind Freddy can see that the relationship between the lower road tolls and the emphasis on speeding is tenuous at best, and probably counter-productive at worst…

Clueless. Absolutely breathtakingly clueless.

So, saying that a poster is clueless because he’s stating a educated opinion seems to be quite a good contribution. Care to explain?

The average everyday driver that does 10-20k/h over the limit puts little at risk more than his fuel gauge.

For instance (and I’ll put myself on the firing line here), I drive a sports car. It’s loud, somewhat obnoxious and has the capability to do all those hoonish things.

Do I? no. I’ve never drunk and driven, or killed anyone, or injured myself in an accident. And yes, I’ll admit I do open it up from time to time on a deserted road. (Who buys a sports car and doesn’t, I ask you?)

georgesgenitals11:08 pm 30 Jan 11

The focus on speeding exists simply because it’s the easiest thing to police.

cranky9:17 pm 30 Jan 11

It is patently obvious that ALL of us experience speeding, inconsiderate, red light running, phone holding, tailgating, (and a multitude of other motoring evils) fellow motorists.

Yet our political masters have decided that speed (that financially beneficial measurable quantity) is the source of all evil, and will be addressed fifthwith.

A journey on Majura Road had washaways beside the tarmac which would cause a total loss of control if hit (because it would have removed your front wheel), and in one case, a hollow which would swallow a small car, This is as of today.

Tony Gill – Please take a drive up and back.

Deckard9:11 pm 30 Jan 11

screaming banshee said :

Traffic lights = Max 80kph

The lights on William Hovell Drive are in a 90 zone.

screaming banshee8:17 pm 30 Jan 11

deye said :

Dalrymple to Jerrabomberra Av.

1500m less a buffer zone for 80kph around the lights

deye said :

Tyagarah st through to Tamar

1900m less a buffer zone, featuring braking from 100kph on an approach to changing lights.

deye said :

If a car can’t make that speed it should be on the road.

Most vehicles on the road can make that speed, but not all can make it in that short a space, or accelerating up and incline and certainly not both.

Mr Gillespie7:02 pm 30 Jan 11

Waving the big stick around again……

georgesgenitals4:06 pm 30 Jan 11

Lardman said :

Now, if the speeding issue is so bad, tell me how many accidents you see on Hindmarsh drive with everyone cruising along happily at 100Kp/h

I don’t think it’s that big a problem. Go after the people doing 30+. They’re the ones being more dangerous. Cruising at 10-15 over with everyone else never hurt anyone.

Well said. We’d need to see an actual link between low level speeding for this to be justified. Some sensible analysis over the real causes of accidents would be a good start.

Jono3:26 pm 30 Jan 11

troll-sniffer said :

…even Blind Freddy can see that the relationship between the lower road tolls and the emphasis on speeding is tenuous at best, and probably counter-productive at worst…

Clueless. Absolutely breathtakingly clueless.