June 1, 2026
Police have charged 47 people with 63 traffic offences following a six-day road safety blitz, Operation Auster, across the QPS’s Southern Region.
Between May 25-30, police conducted 4286 Random Breath Tests and 174 Random Drug Tests and issued 461 traffic infringement notices, including 181 speeding offences.
Eight alleged drink drivers and 38 alleged drug drivers were detected.
On May 27, police intercepted a 2022 Isuzu D-Max allegedly travelling at 86km/h in a 40km/h school zone on Bell Street in Kumbia.
The driver, a 41-year-old Kingaroy man, was issued with a $1919 fine and loss of eight demerit points and loss of licence for six months.
The next day, police stopped a 2016 Mercedes-Benz Vito allegedly travelling at 124km/h in a 100km/h zone along the Brisbane Valley Highway at Coominya.
The driver, an 86-year-old Redbank Plains man, was issued with a $751 fine and loss of four demerit points.
He was also fined $166 for driving without a valid medical certificate.
Southern Region Assistant Commissioner Matthew Vanderbyl said he was disappointed by the number of motorists detected during the operation committing serious traffic offences, despite repeated warnings about the importance of road safety.
“The volume of offences detected during this operation shows there are still too many drivers prepared to ignore the law and gamble with the safety of everyone on the road,” Asst Comm Vanderbyl said.
“Road safety is a shared responsibility, and everyone using our roads has a role to play in preventing crashes and keeping our community safe.
“Operations such as Auster are about more than issuing fines. They are designed to detect and deter dangerous behaviour and encourage safer driving habits to reduce road trauma.
“Our message is clear – if you choose to ignore the road rules and endanger others expect to be detected and held accountable.”
- Related article: Operation Auster Targets Road Safety
* * *
Raw video, supplied by the QPS, of the traffic stops in Kumbia and Coominya:
