Inconsiderate drivers are to face penalties under new laws designed to encourage responsible and considerate behaviour on Canberra’s roads.
Announced by the Minister for Transport and City Services, Chris Steel, the Road Transport Legislation Amendment Bill No. 1 is to apply to all road users, whether they are driving, walking, cycling or scooting.
“We have strengthened the range of offences and penalties for unsafe behaviour that puts other road users at risk – particularly those who don’t have the protection of a car around them,” Mr Steel said.
“(The Bill) makes a series of improvements to the ACT’s current road transport penalties framework, ensuring there is a clear hierarchy of offences, with escalating penalties from lower-level dangerous behaviours through to the most serious negligent, dangerous or culpable driving,” he said.
The Minister said this included new offences for not providing reasonable consideration when driving and riding; driving and riding without having proper control; and negligent driving occasioning actual bodily harm.
Mr Steel said the Bill also introduced updated penalties for the existing offence of negligent driving that did not lead to injury or death; new police powers to direct a person to get off, or not get on, devices like e-scooters and bikes; and higher automatic licence disqualification periods for several driving offences which resulted in serious harm or death.
“These new lower-level offences will act as early intervention tools to stop dangerous behaviour before someone gets hurt,” he said.
“Importantly, they will apply to personal mobility devices like e-scooters, as well as other vehicles.”
Mr Steel said the new offence of negligent driving occasioning actual bodily harm addressed a gap in the ACT’s current laws.
“It seeks to capture harm that is serious but not necessarily permanent – like major bruising, black eyes and lacerations,” he said.
“These types of harm are most often experienced by vulnerable road users like pedestrians and cyclists when other road users don’t take enough care.”
Mr Steel said City Services would roll out a “significant” community education and awareness campaign this month to ensure everyone was aware of their obligations on the Territory’s roads.
