106 extra police to help make Queensland roads safer
Published Wednesday, 12 November, 2008 at 12:37 PM
Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Sport
The Honourable Judy Spence
Police Minister Judy Spence has announced that 106 extra traffic police will hit the roads in Queensland to crack down on drivers who break the law and put lives at risk.
Ms Spence said the additional police would join the Queensland Police Service State Traffic Task Force over the next two years, and will conduct targeted operations and general patrols to help reduce the road toll around the state.
“These 106 officers will significantly bolster the ability of Queensland police to enforce the road rules, which are deigned to keep our roads safe,” Ms Spence said.
“High visibility policing is key to deterring and catching dangerous drivers. By increasing the number of traffic officers in our state we will enhance the ability of police to make our roads safer.
“The extra traffic officers will be recruited in addition to the approximately 700 new police recruits which we train in Queensland each year, to account for growth and attrition.
“They are also in addition to the 200 extra police we announced in this year’s State Budget.
“The additional 106 traffic police officers will be delivered over the next two years, with 53 to be recruited this financial year, and 53 in the following financial year.”
Ms Spence said the additional officers formed part of a major road safety package aimed at continuing to reduce the state’s road toll.
Other elements of the package include:
• 30 additional hand held laser speed detection devices
• 16 mobile radar speed detection devices and 12 micro-digicam speed detectors that allow police to intercept vehicles further down a road to where a micro-digicam is positioned
• eight additional Q-Cars to add an additional Q-Car to every police region, doubling the number of Q-Cars patrolling Queensland roads
• 12 additional police motorcycles for traffic enforcement and to assist with Operation Freeflow on roads such as the Gateway Motorway
• six new fixed speed camera sites to be operational from July 2009.
“We will also be trialling three unmarked speed camera vans for 12 months in our three police regions with the worst road tolls – the North Coast Region, the Southern Region and the South Eastern Police Region,” Ms Spence said.
“This means that three existing speed camera vans in these three areas will have their police decals and logos removed and there will be no warning sign on the roadside as drivers approach the van.
“People who speed will no longer be able to rely on warning signs around mobile speed cameras. There is no excuse for this dangerous driving behaviour.
“We want to send a very strong message to drivers that dangerous, careless and irresponsible behaviour on our roads will not be tolerated – and speeding is simply not acceptable.
“We are now approaching the 300 mark for the number of people who have died on our roads this year, which is a tragic waste of life.
“In many of these cases, the deaths could have been avoided if people had obeyed the road rules and behaved responsibly.
“By increasing police numbers and boosting police resources we will make it even harder for people to get away with breaking the law, and help stop the carnage on our roads.
“Additionally, there is the extra deterrent in the form of increased fines for traffic offences announced this week in a move by the government to make the roads safer for everyone.
“People who do the right thing will not have to pay a cent in increased fines, or in fines at all for that matter,” Ms Spence said.
Media contact: Minister’s Office 3239 6218
Ms Spence said the additional police would join the Queensland Police Service State Traffic Task Force over the next two years, and will conduct targeted operations and general patrols to help reduce the road toll around the state.
“These 106 officers will significantly bolster the ability of Queensland police to enforce the road rules, which are deigned to keep our roads safe,” Ms Spence said.
“High visibility policing is key to deterring and catching dangerous drivers. By increasing the number of traffic officers in our state we will enhance the ability of police to make our roads safer.
“The extra traffic officers will be recruited in addition to the approximately 700 new police recruits which we train in Queensland each year, to account for growth and attrition.
“They are also in addition to the 200 extra police we announced in this year’s State Budget.
“The additional 106 traffic police officers will be delivered over the next two years, with 53 to be recruited this financial year, and 53 in the following financial year.”
Ms Spence said the additional officers formed part of a major road safety package aimed at continuing to reduce the state’s road toll.
Other elements of the package include:
• 30 additional hand held laser speed detection devices
• 16 mobile radar speed detection devices and 12 micro-digicam speed detectors that allow police to intercept vehicles further down a road to where a micro-digicam is positioned
• eight additional Q-Cars to add an additional Q-Car to every police region, doubling the number of Q-Cars patrolling Queensland roads
• 12 additional police motorcycles for traffic enforcement and to assist with Operation Freeflow on roads such as the Gateway Motorway
• six new fixed speed camera sites to be operational from July 2009.
“We will also be trialling three unmarked speed camera vans for 12 months in our three police regions with the worst road tolls – the North Coast Region, the Southern Region and the South Eastern Police Region,” Ms Spence said.
“This means that three existing speed camera vans in these three areas will have their police decals and logos removed and there will be no warning sign on the roadside as drivers approach the van.
“People who speed will no longer be able to rely on warning signs around mobile speed cameras. There is no excuse for this dangerous driving behaviour.
“We want to send a very strong message to drivers that dangerous, careless and irresponsible behaviour on our roads will not be tolerated – and speeding is simply not acceptable.
“We are now approaching the 300 mark for the number of people who have died on our roads this year, which is a tragic waste of life.
“In many of these cases, the deaths could have been avoided if people had obeyed the road rules and behaved responsibly.
“By increasing police numbers and boosting police resources we will make it even harder for people to get away with breaking the law, and help stop the carnage on our roads.
“Additionally, there is the extra deterrent in the form of increased fines for traffic offences announced this week in a move by the government to make the roads safer for everyone.
“People who do the right thing will not have to pay a cent in increased fines, or in fines at all for that matter,” Ms Spence said.
Media contact: Minister’s Office 3239 6218