Almost 100 impaired drivers detected in December

Almost 100 drivers were detected drink and drug driving throughout December during ACT Policing’s month of targeting impaired drivers.

In December (2024) officers from Road Policing and General Duties officers from all five stations targeted impaired drivers across the ACT.

More than 17,000 random breath and drug tests were conducted, with 98 drivers detected under the influence of alcohol or with drugs in their system.

Of the 98 impaired drivers, some of the incidents included:

• A 31-year-old woman, who was an unaccompanied L-plater and therefore subject to a zero alcohol limit, returned a blood alcohol content of 0.169.
• A 28-year-old man, who was observed to be travelling in excess of the speed limit, swerving over the road, and mounting the curb of a roundabout, returned a blood alcohol content of 0.227.
• A 25-year-old man, who was a P-plater and therefore subject to a zero alcohol limit, returned a blood alcohol content of 0.195.
• A 28-year-old man, who was involved in a single vehicle collision after hitting a curb, driving through a fence, and coming to a stop in the grassland, returned a blood alcohol content of 0.134.
• A 39-year-old woman, who was a disqualified driver, returned a blood alcohol content of 0.295.
• A 31-year-old man, who was an international licence holder and therefore subject to a zero alcohol limit, returned a blood alcohol content of 0.255.
• A 32-year-old man, who was observed swerving in and out of lanes, returned a blood alcohol content of 0.210.
• A 33-year-old man, who was a suspended driver and watching videos on his phone while driving, returned a blood alcohol content of 0.172.
• A 24-year-old man, who was an unlicenced driver, returned a blood alcohol content of 0.157.
• A 53-year-old woman, who was involved in a single vehicle collision and was a suspended driver, returned a blood alcohol content of 0.187.
• A 28-year-old man, who collided with a parked car, returned a blood alcohol content of 0.104.
• A 59-year-old man, who was involved in a single vehicle collision, returned a blood alcohol content of 0.175.
• A 39-year-old man, who was a suspended driver and driving an unregistered vehicle, returned a blood alcohol content of 0.130.

All 98 of these drivers were issued with Immediate Suspension Notices, suspending their ACT drivers licences’ for 90 days, and they will face court at a later date.

Officer in Charge of Road Policing, Detective Inspector Mark Steel, said that these results were disturbing and that such reckless driver behaviour had to change.

“This is not a new message, everybody knows the horrific and potentially fatal consequences driving while impaired can have for the driver, passengers and other road users,” Detective Inspector Steel said.

“Nationally, last year impaired driving was a contributing factor in 30% of all fatal collisions.”

“A driver found to be under the influence of alcohol at an RBT station was asked why he was drink driving. He told officers he didn’t think he would encounter police on his way home. No one should ever have the mentality that it’s ok to get behind the wheel and take the risk.”

“Police will continue to target those who drive impaired, and I’d once again like to remind Canberrans that you can be caught anywhere, any time. If you run the risk, prepare to face the consequences.”