Everyone is a vulnerable road user

The joint road safety campaign between ACT Policing and the Justice and Community Safety Directorate will focus on vulnerable road users during August 2019.

Vulnerable road users are the people who are most likely to suffer serious injury or death in a collision: children, pedestrians, motorcyclists and cyclists.

Officer in Charge of Traffic Operations, Detective Acting Station Sergeant Marcus Boorman said virtually everyone is a vulnerable road user at some time.

“You might like to think a vulnerable user means someone else, but think about it and you’ll realise you’re probably one, almost every day,” Detective Acting Station Sergeant Boorman said.

“Whenever you cross a road, whenever you ride a bike or motorcycle, you are a vulnerable road user. Whenever you go for a walk with a child, you’re with a vulnerable road user.

“We have more vulnerable road users in Canberra than ever before. At almost every stop, light rail passengers have to cross a road to get on or off.

“It worries me when people do things that make themselves even more vulnerable. Don’t cross roads against a red signal. Don’t ride your bike or motorbike without a helmet. Think about other traffic on the road.

“Road safety is everyone’s responsibility and every driver, passenger, rider, and pedestrian to think about what they’re doing every time they use a road.”

Drivers are reminded to observe speed limits, including 40km/h school zones, and to allow a safe distance of at least one metre at 60km/h or less and 1.5 metres at speeds above 60km/h when passing cyclists.

This campaign forms part of the ACT Road Safety Strategy 2011-2020 which prioritises a Vision Zero approach to road safety.

Media enquiries

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