Northern Territory Police conducted a snap road safety campaign across the greater Darwin area over the weekend to engage and educate the community on the Fatal 5.
Drink and Drug Driving, Speeding, Wearing a Seatbelt, Driver Fatigue and Driver Distraction are all significant contributors to the Territory's Lives Lost. Officers from Darwin Traffic Operations, Palmerston, Casuarina, Adelaide River and Batchelor all came together to conduct the highly visible campaign, which consisted of two large scale random breath and drug testing stations on Tiger Brennan Drive, Palmerston and the Stuart Highway, Stuart Park, with several random traffic apprehensions throughout the evening.
The results included:
- 1117 people were breath tested, of which 5 people tested positive
- 42 people were drug tested, of which 2 tested positive. 1 was given a notice to appear for drug driving and possession, with 0.90g methamphetamine seized
- 9 traffic infringement notices were issued
- 2 vehicles were defected
- 5 people were cautioned
- 1 crash was attended
Of particular concern was that at approximately 10:45pm on 5 July 2024, officers detected a vehicle travelling inbound on the Stuart Hwy near the RAAF base entrance travelling at 123 km/hr in a posted 70 km/hr zone.
Police attempted to conduct a traffic apprehension on the vehicle, which failed to stop at which time a pursuit was initiated. The vehicle continued through the suburbs of Woolner, Parap, Fannie Bay and The Gardens, colliding with a roundabout and proceeded through a red traffic light where other vehicles were required to give way to avoid a collision. Police deployed a Tyre Deflation Device in The Gardens at which time the vehicle accelerated to speeds of approximately 106 km/hr in the posted 60 km/hr zone before coming to a stop near Daly Street. The driver exited the vehicle and fled on foot however was apprehended by officers after a lengthy foot chase.
He has since been charged with:
- Drive speed dangerous to the public
- Fail to obey direction of Police Officer
- Drive manner dangerous during Police pursuit
- Drive unlicensed
- Drive high range breath alcohol content
- Drive with prohibited drug in body (Cannabis)
- Possess dangerous drug (Cannabis)
He was remanded to appear in Darwin Local Court on 9 July 2024.
Superintendent Meghan Funnell said " Territorians need to start taking road safety seriously. Traffic Operations officers can be Anywhere; Anytime and are imploring drivers not to drive when they have alcohol/drugs in their system and to ensure everyone in the vehicle is wearing a seatbelt before the car moves".
"These incidents come as another fatality occurred over the weekend. Currently this year 31 people have lost their lives, compared to 6 this time last year."
