Driving reform to make Canberra roads safer


Released 23/11/2022 - Joint media release

The ACT Government has today introduced new road safety legislation to tackle excessive speeding, targeting hooning and other dangerous driving behaviour.

Minister for Transport and City Services Chris Steel said the new laws would mean police could immediately disqualify licenses to get more dangerous drivers off our roads more quickly.

“A driver’s license could be immediately suspended for excessive speeds of greater than 45km/h, or for refusing an oral fluid sample for the purposes of drug testing, or for reckless or furious driving,” Minister Steel said.

“The legislation also means drivers repeatedly caught street racing could face an imprisonment for the first time as well as significantly increased fines of up to $16,000.

“These are practical laws that give police the ability to seize and impound vehicles of dangerous drivers to get them and their vehicle off the road.

“Next year we will continue to review road transport penalties and bring forward further reforms to protect road users and deter dangerous driving behaviour.”

Attorney General Shane Rattenbury said the new package would ensure those participating in crimes by trespassing in motor vehicles would now be held to account, with a new offence created for being in a car when you shouldn’t be.

“We had received feedback from ACT Policing that there was a gap in the law, when they could prove a person had been present in someone else’s car, but couldn’t prove they had stolen it. This offence recognises that unauthorised entry to a motor vehicle is unacceptable and wrong, and there needs to be a legal response,” Attorney-General Shane Rattenbury said.

“The Government is also working closely with key stakeholders to progress a more serious offence of unauthorised entry of a motor vehicle, which will encompass a higher level of culpability in its physical and fault elements, and will carry a higher maximum penalty.

“This is just the start of law reform in these areas. We will be working to holistically tackle the range of complicated factors that have contributed to an unusually high death toll on our roads this year.”

Minister for Police and Emergency Services Mick Gentleman said dangerous drivers, enough is enough.

“It’s not just the victims of your driving and their families who are paying the price. First responders are being asked to bear the extraordinary burden supporting victims, witnesses, families, and colleagues,” Minister Gentleman said.

“These legislative reforms will give our police additional powers to enforce road safe behaviours anywhere, anytime.

“Yet more needs to be done. That’s why the ACT Government is working hard on further legislative and regulatory reform and a substantial road safety campaign to deter dangerous driving behaviours.

“This will take significant resources and will require the community to hold their friends and family to account for their behaviour on the road,” Minister Gentleman said.

- Statement ends -

Mick Gentleman, MLA | Shane Rattenbury, MLA | Chris Steel, MLA | Media Releases


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