DOZENS OF DRUG & SPEEDING DRIVERS BUSTED IN 3 DAYS

By Renee Bogatko, Image Credit – ACT Policing

28 drug drivers were busted in Canberra over the holiday double demerit period, with nine on Monday alone.

It’s after ACT Police carried out 88 roadside drug tests over the 3 days from Saturday to Monday.

Acting Officer in Charge of Traffic, Sergeant Ken Hedges, said the number of drug drivers is a major concern.

“Drug driving is downright dangerous, not just to the driver but to everyone on the road around them. It’s disappointing for police that these drivers aren’t getting the message or taking responsibility,” he said.

“The risk of having a collision is increased by a factor of between 100 and 160 times if drivers combine drugs and alcohol, even with an alcohol content under 0.04%. Police actively target this dangerous behaviour and you will be caught anywhere anytime.”

Over the double demerit period, ACT police also dished out 289 fines and 151 warnings for traffic offences, mostly for cars being unregistered/uninsured, mobile phone use and not wearing seatbelts.

Police also caught 141 speeding drivers, with four clocked at more than 45km/h over the limit.

Fines were also given out for burnouts, negligent driving, driving with passengers having a body part out the window or door, and driving with passengers who aren’t sitting in the right space.

“This sort of driving is just irresponsible and we’re extremely disappointed to see people driving with such disregard for their safety and the safety of others,” Sergeant Hedges said.

In one case, police detected a driver who was doing 120km/h in an 80 zone.

Officers soon discovered, the culprit was a disqualified driver in an unregistered vehicle.

To top it off, the driver also returned a positive drug test.

It wasn’t all bad news, though.

During the New Year’s Eve celebrations, police carried out over 800 random roadside breath tests, with just one driver over the limit.