ACT Policing is asking drivers to consider ‘Who are you rushing to meet?’ as the November traffic focus for police turns to the Fatal Five.
Police say the five highest contributing factors to fatal vehicle collisions that occur on ACT roads are:
- Alcohol or drug impaired driving;
- Speeding;
- Not wearing a seatbelt;
- Intersections; and
- Driving whilst distracted.
“What ACT Policing is saying to drivers this November is that when you exhibit the behaviours outlined in the Fatal Five, you run the risk of meeting a different five, being police, fire brigade, ambulance officers, trauma surgeons, or even a funeral director,” said ACT Policing Officer in Charge of Road Policing, Detective Inspector Marcus Boorman.
At the launch of the Who are you rushing to meet? campaign, attended by representatives from ACT Policing, ACT Fire & Rescue, ACT Ambulance Service, Canberra Health Services, and William Cole Funerals, Det Insp Boorman said drivers must realise the serious life-long consequences for themselves and other road users.
“Police have to examine horrific crash sites, fire fighters have to cut people out of mangled vehicle wrecks, ambulance officers have to treat injuries at the scene, as surgeons have to treat them in hospital,” Det Insp Boorman said.
“And if the worst case scenario does happen, funeral directors are then called in to deal with dead bodies following collisions.
“This year already, ACT Policing members have had to deliver tragic news to six families whose loved ones have died in road collisions.
“Police still see far too many drivers on our roads not only speeding, but speeding to excess. This behaviour is dangerous, reckless, and completely indefensible.
“Driving at excessive speed is a death wish. When you speed, you show a complete disregard for not only your own life, but the lives of other road users.
Det Insp Boorman said police would not tolerate this behaviour and neither should the Canberra community.
“This is why we’re asking drivers to consider ‘who are you rushing to meet?’ because if you speed, if you drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol you could be arriving at a very different destination than you initially anticipated.”
The November 2020 focus on the Fatal Five forms part of the joint ACT Road Safety Strategy 2011-2020, which prioritises a Vision Zero approach to road safety.
