AFP police car crashes revealed

Australian Federal Police officers are involved in at least one crash a day — some didn’t even leave their carpark.

They have hit a cow, dozens of kangaroos, an “unknown animal”, and more than 200 poles and bollards – racking up an unenviable driving record.

Australian Federal Police officers are involved in at least one crash a day on our nation’s roads leaving behind a hefty repair bill.

In the past four years there has been more than 1500 claims of damage or crashes with a repair bill of almost $5 million – even though the AFP is among the smaller police forces in Australia, with the least amount of first response duties.

While the nation’s federal police force has been focusing on a publicity push to lift its public profile, statistics show they might be better off closer to home boosting their driver training.

The most common accidents, – 400 of them – occurred while the drivers were reversing, while another 645 happened in a car park., while there has been a string of AFP police cars hitting each other.

In Melbourne, AFP drivers had a string of bingles one the Monash freeway and with trams in the city. In one prang an officer wrote off a police car after doing a U-turn in front a tram.

In Brisbane, at the Sage Hotel in James Street, an officer was reversing in the car park and hit a pole.

In Sydney an AFP police car was involved in a four car pile-up on the M5 which included a taxi and Rav4.

One of the AFP cars rammed the back of the stolen car as the other blocks it from driving any further. Picture: OnScene ACT

Accident and damage reports obtained under Freedom of Information laws by News Corp Australia reveal the vast majority – 530 – occurred on a sealed road in fine conditions.

In more than a third of all accidents an AFP driver was deemed at fault, while in another 130 incidents the at-fault driver was listed as “unknown”. More 270 of the accidents were classified as unavoidable or environmental, such as hail damage.

An AFP police cars were involved in 1500 incidents in the past four years.

A former AFP crash investigator with decades of experience said there is a bad driving culture in the AFP. The investigator said the older and more experienced officers who once set driving standards were gone.

“It is a young police force with young drivers who have not learned how to drive properly,” the former crash investigator said.

“They drive too fast and there is a lack of discipline. And instead of addressing concerns after a serious incident, the AFP tend to downplay it.”

Details of a fatal car crash involving former AFP police officer Lachlan Chancellor, 38, was on his way to the scene of a reported burglary in Canberra in May 2018 were included in the data.

Former AFP officer Lachlan Chancellor gave a heartfelt apology to the family of Amanda Beehag who was killed when Chancellor ran a red light at high speed. Photo: Kate Christian

Chancellor crashed into a car driven by Amanda Beehag, 53, after running a red light intersection at high speed. Ms Beehag died a month later from her injuries.

Evidence was given that Chancellor had accrued a string of low-level driving offences in the three years before the crash mostly related to speeding.

Chancellor pleaded guilty to negligent driving causing death and was given a four month and seven day suspended sentence in the ACT Supreme Court.

But the AFP documents relating to Chancellor’s case reveal the incident was still listed as “not known” if the driver was at fault.

Maybe it is AFP’s poor driving record that could explain why Comcare handed down 11 of its old cars to the AFP.

Australian Federal Police cars have been involved in a string of accidents hitting each other. Picture: AAP Image/Lukas Coch

The Department of Finance reportedly identified 11 Holden Caprice sedans which were no longer suitable for use as Comcars and had leases originally due to expire in July 2020 but the AFP negotiated to take over the leases.

An AFP spokeswoman said recruits undergo two weeks of driver training teaching the fundamentals of safe driving practices.

The spokeswoman also said despite the more than 1500 accidents and damage claims, the driver at fault claims have almost consistently tracked down in the past four years.

Originally published as AFP police car crashes revealed