WA Parliamentary Question on Notice regarding tailgating offences, charges, and police campaigns. The Minister provides data on infringements issued in 2002 and 2003, and explains current practices regarding tailgating enforcement and public awareness.

AnsweredQoN 2176Legislative Assembly
Asked
22 October 2003
Portfolio
Police and Emergency Services

QuestionView source ↗

(b) of these motorists, how many were charged following a motor vehicle accident, and how many were charged when police officers observed the event in the course of their duties; (c) how many motorists have been charged with the offence of tailgating in the 2003 calendar year up to and including 30 September 2003; (d) of these motorists, how many were charged following a motor vehicle accident, and how many were charged when police officers observed the event in the course of their duties; (e) have any police campaigns specifically targeted the behaviour of motorists concerning tailgating, by observing and giving infringement notices for this offence; (f) if so, will the Minister provide details; and (g) if not, and given that tailgating is a significant factor in road accidents, will the Minister instruct her Department to conduct a police campaign along these lines?
(c) how many motorists have been charged with the offence of tailgating in the 2003 calendar year up to and including 30 September 2003; (d) of these motorists, how many were charged following a motor vehicle accident, and how many were charged when police officers observed the event in the course of their duties; (e) have any police campaigns specifically targeted the behaviour of motorists concerning tailgating, by observing and giving infringement notices for this offence; (f) if so, will the Minister provide details; and (g) if not, and given that tailgating is a significant factor in road accidents, will the Minister instruct her Department to conduct a police campaign along these lines?
(d) of these motorists, how many were charged following a motor vehicle accident, and how many were charged when police officers observed the event in the course of their duties; (e) have any police campaigns specifically targeted the behaviour of motorists concerning tailgating, by observing and giving infringement notices for this offence; (f) if so, will the Minister provide details; and (g) if not, and given that tailgating is a significant factor in road accidents, will the Minister instruct her Department to conduct a police campaign along these lines?
(e) have any police campaigns specifically targeted the behaviour of motorists concerning tailgating, by observing and giving infringement notices for this offence; (f) if so, will the Minister provide details; and (g) if not, and given that tailgating is a significant factor in road accidents, will the Minister instruct her Department to conduct a police campaign along these lines?
(f) if so, will the Minister provide details; and (g) if not, and given that tailgating is a significant factor in road accidents, will the Minister instruct her Department to conduct a police campaign along these lines?
(g) if not, and given that tailgating is a significant factor in road accidents, will the Minister instruct her Department to conduct a police campaign along these lines?
(b) The Police Service advise 960 infringements were issued as the result of a traffic crash and 206 infringements were issued by police in the course of their duties. (c) The Police Service advise 1,221 infringements have been issued, year to date 30 September 2003, for failing to keep a safe distance behind vehicles. (d) The Police Service advise 1,161 infringements were issued as the result of a traffic crash and 60 infringements were issued by police in the course of their duties. (e – g) The Assistant Commissioner, Traffic and Operations Support advises that in the main, prosecutions are issued subsequent to a traffic crash. In addition, where a driver does drive too closely to the vehicle in front, such driving may result in a prosecution for careless or dangerous driving. Periodically, public information campaigns advise motorists of what the safe distance is to drive behind a vehicle when travelling at a certain speed. The Road Safety Council conducts a weekly Road Sense community education campaign in The West Australian newspaper on general road rules which has included information on the issue of tailgating.
(c) The Police Service advise 1,221 infringements have been issued, year to date 30 September 2003, for failing to keep a safe distance behind vehicles. (d) The Police Service advise 1,161 infringements were issued as the result of a traffic crash and 60 infringements were issued by police in the course of their duties. (e – g) The Assistant Commissioner, Traffic and Operations Support advises that in the main, prosecutions are issued subsequent to a traffic crash. In addition, where a driver does drive too closely to the vehicle in front, such driving may result in a prosecution for careless or dangerous driving. Periodically, public information campaigns advise motorists of what the safe distance is to drive behind a vehicle when travelling at a certain speed. The Road Safety Council conducts a weekly Road Sense community education campaign in The West Australian newspaper on general road rules which has included information on the issue of tailgating.
(d) The Police Service advise 1,161 infringements were issued as the result of a traffic crash and 60 infringements were issued by police in the course of their duties. (e – g) The Assistant Commissioner, Traffic and Operations Support advises that in the main, prosecutions are issued subsequent to a traffic crash. In addition, where a driver does drive too closely to the vehicle in front, such driving may result in a prosecution for careless or dangerous driving. Periodically, public information campaigns advise motorists of what the safe distance is to drive behind a vehicle when travelling at a certain speed. The Road Safety Council conducts a weekly Road Sense community education campaign in The West Australian newspaper on general road rules which has included information on the issue of tailgating.
(e – g) The Assistant Commissioner, Traffic and Operations Support advises that in the main, prosecutions are issued subsequent to a traffic crash. In addition, where a driver does drive too closely to the vehicle in front, such driving may result in a prosecution for careless or dangerous driving. Periodically, public information campaigns advise motorists of what the safe distance is to drive behind a vehicle when travelling at a certain speed. The Road Safety Council conducts a weekly Road Sense community education campaign in The West Australian newspaper on general road rules which has included information on the issue of tailgating.
Periodically, public information campaigns advise motorists of what the safe distance is to drive behind a vehicle when travelling at a certain speed. The Road Safety Council conducts a weekly Road Sense community education campaign in The West Australian newspaper on general road rules which has included information on the issue of tailgating.

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
2 March 2004
Responded by
Minister for Police and Emergency Services
Response time
132 days
(a) The Police Service advise 1,166 infringements were issued during 2002 for failing to keep a safe distance behind vehicles.
(b) The Police Service advise 960 infringements were issued as the result of a traffic crash and 206 infringements were issued by police in the course of their duties.
(c) The Police Service advise 1,221 infringements have been issued, year to date 30 September 2003, for failing to keep a safe distance behind vehicles.
(d) The Police Service advise 1,161 infringements were issued as the result of a traffic crash and 60 infringements were issued by police in the course of their duties.
(e – g) The Assistant Commissioner, Traffic and Operations Support advises that in the main, prosecutions are issued subsequent to a traffic crash. In addition, where a driver does drive too closely to the vehicle in front, such driving may result in a prosecution for careless or dangerous driving.
Periodically, public information campaigns advise motorists of what the safe distance is to drive behind a vehicle when travelling at a certain speed. The Road Safety Council conducts a weekly Road Sense community education campaign in The West Australian newspaper on general road rules which has included information on the issue of tailgating.

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