RAPID EXPANSION TO MAKE ACT ROADS SAFER

Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Simon Corbell, today launched new two new police vehicles, specially fitted with technology to detect unregistered and unlicensed vehicles on Canberra roads.

The vehicles are fitted with Recognition and Analysis of Plates Identified (RAPID) technology, which instantly detects a vehicle that is unregistered or uninsured.

"I am pleased to see these additional vehicles for a highly successful program to detect unregistered and unlicensed drivers on the ACT's roads," Mr Corbell said.

"The ACT Government injected $4.1m, over four years, to build on the capability of the RAPID team in the ACT, with two new cars and six new dedicated police officers.

"The ACT Labor Government is investing in technologies that not only make policing easier, but make our roads safer for all to use."

A successful trial of RAPID during the first half of 2009 saw:

2,348 individual vehicles and people of interest being identified;
1,820 infringements being issued; and,
200 suspensions or disqualifications issued.
RAPID has also contributed to general crime reduction in the ACT with a number of stolen motor vehicles recovered as part of RAPID operations over the past 12 months. It has also identified some people with outstanding warrants for arrest.

"The RAPID system now operates from three specially designed vehicles and will also be used to identify vehicles owned by suspended or unlicensed drivers, and vehicles associated with persons wanted on warrant," Mr Corbell said.

"Road safety remains a priority for the Government and ACT Policing and I look forward to seeing the results from the additional vehicles in the RAPID fleet."

ACT Policing Superintendent of Traffic Operations, Mark Colbran, said that the ACT's 2010 road toll stands at 17, the highest ACT road toll in many years.

"We know that about 33% of these fatalities involved either an unregistered car or an unlicensed driver. This is something we can address and this boost in capacity for RAPID will hopefully help reduce the amount of fatalities on our roads," Superintendent Colbran said.

Media Contact:

Patrick Cronan 6205 0401 0432 758 224 patrick.cronan@act.gov.au