April 22, 2013
Queensland drivers are being urged to slow down and take care on the roads after the Queensland Police Service detected more than 7000 offences on the road in just two weeks.
Police Minister Jack Dempsey said officers had been out in force as a part of Operation Q Blitz 2, a statewide traffic initiative targeting the Fatal Five – speeding, drink driving, driving tired, driving distracted and not wearing a seat belt.
In the North Coast police district – which includes most of the South Burnett – there were 293 mobile speed camera detections, 512 speeding tickets, 29 tickets issued for not wearing seat-belts, 40 mobile phone offences, and 340 other tickets issued.
Eighteen drink drivers were detected from 1822 roadside breath tests.
“The number of Queenslanders ignoring the road rules and endangering the lives of others will simply not be tolerated,” Mr Dempsey said.
“This year’s road toll has already reached a shocking 85, which is 16 more than at the same time as last year.
“Nothing is worth endangering the lives of our loved ones and other road users.”
Mr Dempsey said some of the result from the traffic blitz included:
- 3282 non-speed camera offences were detected while a further 1032 were detected by mobile speed cameras
- 172 traffic infringement notices were issued for seat belt offences
- 237 drivers were caught using mobile phones
- 210 drink drivers were detected as officers conducted more than 21,000 Random Breath Tests
A further 2195 traffic infringement notices were issued for a variety of other offences
Commissioner Ian Stewart was disappointed by the high number of motorists detected over the two-week period.
“These drivers are not only endangering their own lives by ignoring The Fatal Five, but also the lives of passengers and other road users,” Commissioner Stewart said.
“It is frustrating to see some drivers not heeding the warnings and obviously not getting the message.
“It is only April and yet tragically, 85 lives have been lost on Queensland roads, which is 17 more than this time last year.”
