ACT Policing has launched a new campaign along with its November traffic focus centring on the five highest contributing factors to fatal collisions on ACT roads.
The Police said the Fatal Five were alcohol or drug impaired driving; speeding; not wearing a seatbelt; intersections; and driving while distracted.
They said the campaign, Who are you rushing to meet?, connected the Fatal Five behaviours with the five people someone exhibiting those behaviour may meet, police officers, fire fighters, ambulance officers, trauma surgeons, or a funeral director.
Officer in Charge of Road Policing, Detective Inspector Marcus Boorman said drivers needed to realise the serious life-long consequences of irresponsible driving for themselves and for 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,” Detective Inspector Boorman said.
“And if the worst case scenario does happen, funeral directors are then called in to deal with dead bodies following collisions,” he said.
“This year already, ACT Policing members have had to deliver tragic news to six families whose loved ones have died in road collisions.”
Detective Inspector Boorman said police still saw far too many drivers on ACT roads not only speeding but speeding to excess.
“Driving at excessive speed is a death wish,” he said.
“When you speed, you show a complete disregard for not only your own life, but the lives of other road users.”
Detective Inspector Boorman said police wouldn’t tolerate the behaviour and neither should the Canberra community.
“This is why we’re asking drivers to consider ‘W ho 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,” he said.
