Major crackdown on drivers in Aussie suburbs as 'rat-running' problem worsens
Residents in already congested suburbs have had enough of 'rat-running' through their normally quiet streets, with authorities now forced to step in to issues fines.
A three-day police operation has lifted the lid on a growing problem on busy Aussie roads as drivers attempt to dodge traffic on congested main roads by taking local streets instead — while often ignoring a range of common road rules.
The tactic is referred to as "rat-running" and it's frustrating locals who say their residential streets are often lined with queues of heavy traffic, interrupting their peace and quiet. The issue is particularly rife in Sydney's inner west with normally quiet streets around Drummoyne often succumbing to bumper-to-bumper chaos.
Following community concern, the Georges River Highway Patrol conducted a three-day operation, and while "rat-running" isn't illegal, they found drivers committing several offences in a bid to cut down their travel time.
"Over a three day period officers took action against more than 150 drivers in relation to disobeying incorrect turn signs and bus zone offences," Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, a part of the NSW Police Force, revealed.
"Of those, more than 70 drivers were detected using bus lanes to bypass queues of waiting traffic, causing more congestion in an already busy area as they tried to remerge into traffic."
NSW Police confirmed with Yahoo News "there are fines and demerit points associated with many traffic offences," including those Traffic and Highway Patrol caught many drivers involved in.
For example, 'disobey left turn only sign' could result in a fine of $320 and the loss of two demerit points, while 'Drive in bus lane' would have a fine of $410 and loss of one demerit point. It's understood the 70 caught likely received Traffic Infringement Notices.
The operation was praised by many who agreed "something had to be done". Others labelled it "fantastic" and agreed it was "great work".
Problem of 'rat-running' is getting worse
While rat-running is not a new phenomenon it's feared it's getting worse, especially in busy, built-up suburbs in major cities including Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
In Sydney's inner west, where this latest patrol was carried out, expensive toll roads are partly to blame, with the Rozelle Interchange — a recently opened underground motorway — continuing to cause a divide. Some residents suggest people driving through take smaller, local streets to avoid paying to use the toll road.
"This is caused by the deliberate backing up of traffic in Drummoyne because of the Rozelle Interchange isn't it?" one person questioned.
Motorists take smaller streets to avoid paying tolls
An independent review into Sydney's toll system led by former Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) chair Allan Fels and David Cousins found motorists would pay $195 billion in tolls between now and 2060. It also found that high toll costs pushed nearly 50 per cent of people onto non-toll roads, the ABC previously reported.
Sydney's Inner West Council Mayor Darcy Byrne said local roads in his electorate had been "smashed" since the opening of the Rozelle Interchange. "We've seen a massive increase in rat-running on local streets which is causing safety problems and stopping our residents from getting to work in the morning," he said," according to the publication.
"Sydney is the most tolled city in the world, and it's no surprise that many motorists are desperately trying to find a way to avoid paying the world's highest tolls."
Busy suburbs across major cities experiencing congested streets
But the issue is rife across Brisbane too with residents often complaining to local councils. Hamilton, Ascot and neighbouring suburbs, in the city's northeast, have been copping it for years
On one road, which had long been suffering from a steady stream of vehicles taking shortcuts through suburban streets, a sign was installed saying 'Local cars only'. The words 'not suitable for large vehicles' were written underneath with the hope it would deter commuters from cutting through, the Brisbane Times previously reported.
And in Melbourne, Parkville Gardens residents earlier this year expressed their frustrations over drivers using their housing estate as a shortcut during peak hours leaving many "unable to get out our driveways".
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