QUEENSLAND’S ROAD SHAME: DANGEROUS DRIVING ON THE INCREASE
Published Wednesday, 01 November, 2006 at 11:05 AM
Minister for Police and Corrective Services
The Honourable Judy Spence
Police Minister Judy Spence has warned of more road safety blitzes in the lead up to Christmas, in the wake of alarming statistics from the latest statewide road safety operation.
Ms Spence told State Parliament today that Operation Spring Break, a road safety campaign conducted by police each year during the September school holidays, showed a jump in the number of driving offences across the state.
Speeding offences rose 23% compared to the operation last year, with almost 19,000 offences recorded.
“The September school holidays are always a busy time on our roads, with many families taking the opportunity to travel,” Ms Spence said.
“During the operation, which ran from September 20 to October 9, police focussed on speeding, drink driving, driving while tired and seatbelts.
“More than 170,000 drivers were breath tested and police spent a combined total of 56,188 officer hours patrolling Queensland roads.
“Despite the unprecedented focus on road safety and our climbing road toll, police recorded significant increases in every offence category.”
Ms Spence said the Metropolitan North Region recorded the highest number of offences, with more than 6,500 speeding tickets issued by police.
“Police detected a vehicle in the Pine Rivers district travelling at 165km/hour in a 100km zone – the driver was unlicensed and more than three times over the legal alcohol limit,” Ms Spence said.
“In Toowoomba, police detected a driver travelling at 133km/hr in a 100km zone who was unregistered, uninsured, had false plates and a false registration sticker.
“Another Toowoomba motorist was caught travelling almost 20km over the speed limit in a 60km zone – with a six week old baby in the car.”
Ms Spence said drink driving offences also rose almost 9% to more than 1,700 offences, while 1,319 people were booked for not wearing seatbelts - an increase of almost 13% compared to last year.
“Sadly, the most alarming statistic during this period was our road toll, which climbed significantly with 18 road fatalities during the school holidays,” Ms Spence said.
“North Queensland recorded the highest number of fatalities, with six people losing their lives in road crashes.
“Already this year 271 people have been killed on our roads - 6 over the weekend alone.
“There is only so much the police can do. Drivers must start taking responsibility for their actions.”
Ms Spence said that police will start the statewide Operation ‘Check-It’ this month, which will focus on unroadworthy vehicles, or those with defects.
“The Christmas Road Safety Campaign will start on December 13 and will run until February 2, incorporating Operation Back to School,” Ms Spence said.
“We are committed to making our roads safer – not just on the holidays, but every time someone gets behind the wheel.”
Ms Spence said she was looking forward to introducing new legislation to Parliament this week that will further improve road safety, by enabling police to confiscate the vehicles from repeat drink drivers, and those who continue to drive illegally modified cars or while unlicensed, unregistered or disqualified.
Media contact – Sarah Martin 3239 6172 / 0408 732 491
Ms Spence told State Parliament today that Operation Spring Break, a road safety campaign conducted by police each year during the September school holidays, showed a jump in the number of driving offences across the state.
Speeding offences rose 23% compared to the operation last year, with almost 19,000 offences recorded.
“The September school holidays are always a busy time on our roads, with many families taking the opportunity to travel,” Ms Spence said.
“During the operation, which ran from September 20 to October 9, police focussed on speeding, drink driving, driving while tired and seatbelts.
“More than 170,000 drivers were breath tested and police spent a combined total of 56,188 officer hours patrolling Queensland roads.
“Despite the unprecedented focus on road safety and our climbing road toll, police recorded significant increases in every offence category.”
Ms Spence said the Metropolitan North Region recorded the highest number of offences, with more than 6,500 speeding tickets issued by police.
“Police detected a vehicle in the Pine Rivers district travelling at 165km/hour in a 100km zone – the driver was unlicensed and more than three times over the legal alcohol limit,” Ms Spence said.
“In Toowoomba, police detected a driver travelling at 133km/hr in a 100km zone who was unregistered, uninsured, had false plates and a false registration sticker.
“Another Toowoomba motorist was caught travelling almost 20km over the speed limit in a 60km zone – with a six week old baby in the car.”
Ms Spence said drink driving offences also rose almost 9% to more than 1,700 offences, while 1,319 people were booked for not wearing seatbelts - an increase of almost 13% compared to last year.
“Sadly, the most alarming statistic during this period was our road toll, which climbed significantly with 18 road fatalities during the school holidays,” Ms Spence said.
“North Queensland recorded the highest number of fatalities, with six people losing their lives in road crashes.
“Already this year 271 people have been killed on our roads - 6 over the weekend alone.
“There is only so much the police can do. Drivers must start taking responsibility for their actions.”
Ms Spence said that police will start the statewide Operation ‘Check-It’ this month, which will focus on unroadworthy vehicles, or those with defects.
“The Christmas Road Safety Campaign will start on December 13 and will run until February 2, incorporating Operation Back to School,” Ms Spence said.
“We are committed to making our roads safer – not just on the holidays, but every time someone gets behind the wheel.”
Ms Spence said she was looking forward to introducing new legislation to Parliament this week that will further improve road safety, by enabling police to confiscate the vehicles from repeat drink drivers, and those who continue to drive illegally modified cars or while unlicensed, unregistered or disqualified.
Media contact – Sarah Martin 3239 6172 / 0408 732 491