ACT supports road safety National Day of Action

ACT Policing is supporting today’s National Day of Action on road safety (Tuesday 27 August).

Today will see every police jurisdiction in Australia draw attention to the lives lost and the lives dramatically changed as a result of motor vehicle collisions on the nation’s roads this year, with a particular focus on rural road safety.

Police from across the country are saying ‘enough is enough’, and every jurisdiction in Australia will release a social media video to draw attention to driver behaviour.

The ACT’s contribution will show how driver distraction can quickly turn a drive in the country into a deadly collision.

ACT Policing Traffic Superintendent Corey Heldon said Canberra motorists can expect to see an increased police presence on local roads today to help heighten awareness about the issue.

“While rural and regional roads will be a priority across Australia for this National Day of Action, ACT Policing will also be cracking down on drivers who choose to break the law,” Superintendent Heldon said.

“The ACT’s roads are predominantly urban, but in the bush capital drivers can easily go from city streets to country roads and back to city streets in a relatively short drive.

“We want everyone to take care on rural roads. Not just people heading to the snow, not just visitors to the ACT, not just Canberrans on a trip away.”

So far in 2019, three people have been killed on ACT roads.

From 1 January to 31 July 2019 there were 4220 road crashes in the ACT, which is an average of more than 600 crashes per month or 23 per day.

In addition to the human cost, the estimated financial cost of Australia’s road trauma is $30 billion a year.

Media enquiries

Police Media — (02) 5126 9070, act-police-media@afp.gov.au