But ACT Police Sergeant Craig McPherson said the number of accidents was not unusual given the conditions.

There were 17 separate car accidents between 8am on Wednesday morning and Thursday afternoon, one of which claimed the life of a 30-year-old Gordon man when his Subaru Impreza crashed into a tree on Wednesday afternoon.

While the Sergeant admitted there were definitely more accidents during wet weather periods, he said the mindsets of drivers in the Territory did not make them better or worse drivers than interstate motorists.

"We’ve found the attitudes of motorists here in the ACT are no different to the attitudes of people anywhere in the country," he said.

He did say however there that cultural differences in the territory influence the way Canberrans drive compared to interstate drivers and that these cultures can take decades to change.

"Canberra is an urban environment with arterial roads in the suburbs. We also have higher average speeds than other jurisdictions, and perhaps the layout of the streets and the lesser degree of traffic forms some form of self-regulation for drivers."

Sgt McPherson also said Canberra still has an issue with impaired drivers, such as those who drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol, a problem he puts down to long established cultures.

"The difference between states is difficult to quantify but we do have a high number of significantly impaired drivers and we’ve been pursuing legislative reforms to address this," he said.

Sgt McPherson, who has been with traffic police since 1991, said he experienced some frustration when drivers on Canberra’s roads failed to alter their driving for wet weather conditions.

"At times there is what you might say frustration but what we’re dealing with here is human nature," he said.

"We all make mistakes but I wonder if that’s also because people have been doing something for a long time and always getting away with it."

"People need to go out on the roads with a proper appreciation of what’s required of them," he said.

"This is a transport network and not a playground.”

A degree of frustration was shown by police on Wednesday afternoon when responding to the numerous incidents on wet roads. "Come on, people - drive to the conditions," read one tweet.

Sgt McPherson said major arterial roads in Canberra like Tuggeranong Parkway were of particular concern for ACT Police, particularly during wet weather periods.

"When these roads are congested they challenge people whose attitudes aren’t quite right, or because they are tailgating or not giving themselves the time and space to do what they need to do," he said.

With wet weather set to last into the weekend, the Sergeant’s message to Canberrans was to adopt an appropriate mindset before jumping behind the wheel and remember the simple basics.

"The road rules handbook says you should follow another vehicle at three second intervals, but obviously that needs to be greater in the wet conditions."