Police car hits 19yr old in Civic

Jivrashia said :

I think the intersection has a lot to answer for.
…Car can’t seen pedestrian.
Pedestrian can’t see car.

That’s a genuine problem when people walk along the footpath.

It doesn’t apply in this case, because:
(1) the pedestrians were “standing in the entrance to the lane” (which looks like a breach of Road Rule 230: “A pedestrian … must not stay on the road longer than necessary to cross the road safely.”);
(2) The report indicates that the police driver had already seen them;
(3) Even though the police van should have given way, the guy’s mates had to pull him out of its way: “Two members of the group grabbed hold of the male on the upper and lower arm and started to pull him backwards out of the way.”

This guy was undoubtedly as drunk and stupid as I was when after a few ciders I ran the front tyre of my little motorbike into the rear bumper of a paddy wagon. In my case the police didn’t notice. In this case the police were kind enough to ensure that the guy got medical attention.

Sounds like it wasn’t so much a vehicle accident, as a uncoordinated pedestrian that fell over when unbalanced by his friends.

Interesting question raised about the actually TIN issued though – if I was the cop I would dispute it. 🙂

I think the intersection has a lot to answer for.

Check it out on streetview.

Car can’t seen pedestrian.
Pedestrian can’t see car.

Leon said :

A freedom of information request shows that police don’t understand the rules for giving way to pedestrians.

The police report indicates that the Constable driving the police van breached Rule 73: Giving way at a T–intersection, which states that “If the driver is turning left (except if the driver is using a slip lane) from the continuing road [i.e. London Circuit] into the terminating road [i.e. Verity Lane], the driver must give way to any pedestrian on the terminating road at or near the intersection.”

The Constable was not given a Traffic Infringement Notice caution for breaching Rule 73, but instead for breaching Rule 75: “Giving way when entering a road-related area or adjacent land from a road,” even though the police report does not indicate that the Constable entered a road-related area or adjacent land.

The police report says:

“Police were travelling east bound on London Circuit, Canberra City. As they passed Verity Lane they noticed a group of persons gathering down the lane. The driver of the Police vehicle, Constable [redacted], stopped the vehicle and reversed to enable a left hand turn into Verity Lane.

“ A group of 3 to 4 males were standing in the entrance to the lane. Constable [redacted] stopped the vehicle and sounded the horn and gestured to the males to move out of the way.

The males have looked at the Police vehicle and made eye contact with Police. The group stepped backward, except for one male who was still standing still. Two members of the group grabbed hold of the male on the upper and lower arm and started to pull him backwards out of the way.

As the male stepped backwards, he stumbled and lost balance, at the same time Constable [redacted] started to move forward. The male fell over and a small bump was felt in the vehicle. Constable [redacted] stopped and reversed back about one metre.

On exiting the vehicle Police observed the male person had a small graze to the back of his head to which they applied a bandage …”

It would appear that the police are not at fault in this instance.Standing in the middle of the lane and then failing to move out of the way when your friends were clearly able to do so suggests that he may have been a smartarse.

A freedom of information request shows that police don’t understand the rules for giving way to pedestrians.

The police report indicates that the Constable driving the police van breached Rule 73: Giving way at a T–intersection, which states that “If the driver is turning left (except if the driver is using a slip lane) from the continuing road [i.e. London Circuit] into the terminating road [i.e. Verity Lane], the driver must give way to any pedestrian on the terminating road at or near the intersection.”

The Constable was not given a Traffic Infringement Notice caution for breaching Rule 73, but instead for breaching Rule 75: “Giving way when entering a road-related area or adjacent land from a road,” even though the police report does not indicate that the Constable entered a road-related area or adjacent land.

The police report says:

“Police were travelling east bound on London Circuit, Canberra City. As they passed Verity Lane they noticed a group of persons gathering down the lane. The driver of the Police vehicle, Constable [redacted], stopped the vehicle and reversed to enable a left hand turn into Verity Lane.

“ A group of 3 to 4 males were standing in the entrance to the lane. Constable [redacted] stopped the vehicle and sounded the horn and gestured to the males to move out of the way.

The males have looked at the Police vehicle and made eye contact with Police. The group stepped backward, except for one male who was still standing still. Two members of the group grabbed hold of the male on the upper and lower arm and started to pull him backwards out of the way.

As the male stepped backwards, he stumbled and lost balance, at the same time Constable [redacted] started to move forward. The male fell over and a small bump was felt in the vehicle. Constable [redacted] stopped and reversed back about one metre.

On exiting the vehicle Police observed the male person had a small graze to the back of his head to which they applied a bandage …”

astrojax said :

FXST01 said :

This is why pedestrians should be registered. ;-P

and only allowed to wear lycra… why don’t we have mandatory safety helmets for pedestrians yet? crazy country…

Looks like you found your R’s again after that ANUS debacle… 🙂

FXST01 said :

This is why pedestrians should be registered. ;-P

and only allowed to wear lycra… why don’t we have mandatory safety helmets for pedestrians yet? crazy country…

In a media release issued on 7 November, Officer-in-Charge of Traffic Operations Sergeant Rod Anderson is quoted as saying “If you breach the road rules and place your own life or the lives of others in danger, we will catch you.”

Let’s hope they soon catch the person who in this case breached the road rules and put people’s lives in danger.

Not really surprised this happened. People always walk onto the road without looking, especially crossing East Row towards Maccas.

This is why pedestrians should be registered. ;-P