Northern Territory dangerous driving: Motorcyclist’s crazy act at McMinns Lagoon
A motorcyclist has been caught doing something dangerous on the same road as recent fatalities.
Police & Courts
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A motorcyclist driving near a deadly Darwin road that has already seen two lives lost this year has been captured on camera steering his bike with his feet while using both hands to fire off a quick text message on his phone.
The motorcyclist’s outrageously dangerous behaviour occurred at McMinns Lagoon at about 3.20pm on August 30, according to the driver who captured the images via dashboard camera and circulated them online.
“Just saw this guy riding a scooter down McMinns Drive heading to Girraween Rd,” the man said.
“If you are this kid’s parent/s please have a chat to him.
“Riding with your feet while using both hands to operate your phone is a new level of stupid. “He was going real quick too so no time to adapt when things go south.”
Online chatter was split evenly between those condemning the behaviour and those making light of the situation.
“Save it for the circus, lad, or you won’t be with us for very long,” another added.
McMinns Lagoon/Girraween has already been the site of two road fatalities in 2024.
On April 30, a 15-year-old boy died after being involved in a three-vehicle collision between a motor vehicle and two dirt bikes.
And on Sunday morning, a 26-year-old man was discovered deceased after he was ejected from an unregistered buggy while under the influence of alcohol.
On Monday, NT Police Assistant Commissioner Michael White said improving driving practices in Darwin’s rural fringe remained a focus for the organisation.
He said the region was at particular risk of road fatalities due to a prevalence of unregistered vehicles, quad bikes and dirt bikes; misuse of alcohol and other substances; and more males aged 20–35 driving.
NT Police unveiled a significant road safety blitz over the weekend, targeting greater Darwin and Alice Springs, the latter to coincide with Red Centre Nats.
A spokesman said that in the past week, the Darwin Traffic Operations unit tested 1500 drivers in the Top End, with nine exceeding the legal blood-alcohol limit and two testing positive for dangerous drugs.
Over the weekend in Alice Springs, 3800 random breath tests were performed.
Fourteen motorists were discovered with alcohol levels above the legal driving limit, Commissioner White said, a ratio of 0.37 per cent.
“More disturbingly” for police, of the 84 drivers who provided saliva samples, 11 returned a positive indication for illicit substances – or 13 per cent of all those tested.
“That’s a significant concern for me and it’s actually from a community safety perspective a clear indication that people are not interested in obeying the road rules, not interested in protecting themselves and other people from the tragedies of road crashes,” Commissioner White said.
“Road behaviours continue to be problematic.”
The Northern Territory’s 2024 road toll currently stands at 46 – compared to 31 for all of 2023 – and senior traffic officers say drink driving continues to be the most significant causal factor in the majority of fatalities.
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