Meet SAPOL Road Safety Chief and Shameless Hypocrite, Superintendent Shane Johnson
The ugly character above is SA Police’s road safety chief, Superintendent Shane Johnson, who is now in a spot of bother for taking a selfie while operating a bicycle.
Johnson will face an internal investigation after the genius posted photos to his Strava account showing him taking a selfie while riding on a public road. In other words, breaking the same traffic rules he is in charge of enforcing.
The selfie shows him smiling while pedalling down a suburban street, with one arm on the handlebar and another extended in front of him as he takes the happy snap.
Johnson posted the image on his Strava account on October 18 last year.
Under South Australian road rules, using a mobile phone while riding a bicycle is an offence, just as it is for motorists.
Johnson, massive hypocrite that he is, in April last year called on motorists to “wake up to the consequences” of illegal phone use, saying that there were “too many willing to take a risk by being distracted by their phone”.
“Taking your eyes off the road, even for a split second, to read or respond to a message, slows down your reaction time and increases the chances of having a crash,” he said. “Vulnerable road users like pedestrians, cyclists or motorcycle riders are placed at greater risk of serious injury and death with drivers not focusing on driving.”
So why did you take a selfie while commandeering a two-wheeled vehicle, you shameless phony?
An SA Police spokeswoman told The Advertiser Supt Johnson has been hit with a penalty for his offence and he will face an internal investigation.
“Officer-in-charge of the Traffic Services Branch Superintendent Shane Johnson has been issued with an expiation notice for using a mobile telephone while riding a bicycle,” the spokeswoman said.
“This incident is now also the subject of a police complaint referred to SAPOL’s Ethical and Professional Standards Branch.”
Supt Johnson fronted the media on Tuesday afternoon, where he issued a routine statement, simultaneously accepting “full responsibility” and attempting to rationalise his actions.
“I’ve just been on a six and a half-hour ride with friends, in which I covered just over 202km,” he said.
“I was alone. I was about 100m from my home address and riding just a few kilometres an hour in the backstreet, with no other vehicles or persons around when I took my phone from my back pocket and I took a selfie picture.”
No excuse, mate. You know the rules. Isn’t that what you revenue-raising shonks tell civilians when you book them for such trivial nonsense as putting on their seatbelt just after they’ve pulled out of their driveway?
Furthermore, what is so important about your ugly sweaty mug that you have to take a photo of it while in motion on a bicycle, then share it with the world?
Here at SAPC.com, we’ve logged tens of thousands of kilometres on our trusty treadlies over the years, but not once have we ever thought at any point during a ride, “hey, I should pull out my phone and take a photo of myself!”
Why not?
Because we’re not narcissistic, validation-seeking wankers.
Superintendent Shane Johnson’s infamous selfie taken while allegedly riding his bicycle. Picture: Supplied
Johnson pretending to be repulsed by phone use while operating a vehicle, even though he does it himself. Picture: Russell Millard
Johnson tried to explain away the selfie by claiming he was only 100m from home, but hasn’t explained this mid-ride shot of his riding companions’ arses that he took. Picture: Supplied
Johnson isn’t the first grossly overpaid bureaucrat to get caught out breaking the same laws he piously scolds others for not adhering to.
In 2009, current Treasurer Tom “Sniff, Sniff, Snort, Snort” Koutsantonis caused public outrage over traffic offences that led to his resignation as SA’s road safety minister.
Koutsantonis admitted to more than 30 offences between 1994 and 2008 and to paying more than $10,000 in fines for speeding, running red lights and using a mobile phone while driving.
Once his shocking driving record became public knowledge, he resigned from the posting, claiming he realised he could no longer be an effective advocate for road safety.
