Drivers urged to be cautious as students return from holidays

• Most horrific weekend for fatals with ten people killed since September 29.
• Students return from school holidays with school zones back in operation from tomorrow
• A police road safety operation coinciding with school holidays saw more than 8, 846 traffic offences detected across the state.
• 3904 speeding drivers were nabbed during the holiday period.
• 217 people have lost their lives on our roads this year compared to 222 for the same time frame.

The Queensland Police Service (QPS) are pleading with motorists to drive safely after one of the most horrific long weekends for road fatalities in the state.

Since Friday night September 29, ten people have been killed in crashes with driver error being one of the contributing factors to a number of these crashes.

The QPS will continue their campaign to keep our roads safe and enforce the road rules with an aim to identify driver behaviour that put other road users at risk 

School speed zones will be back in operation from tomorrow as Queensland school children return from their Spring holidays.  Between April 17 to June 23 this year there have been 2642 infringement notices issued by police officers in school zones in Queensland. 

The Queensland Police Service (QPS) road safety campaign Operation Spring Break was conducted across the school holiday period with nearly 9,000 traffic offences detected across the state.

The two week high-visibility traffic campaign, commencing on September 16, targeted high risk driving behaviour which traditionally sees a larger volume of traffic on our roads.

During the operation a sad milestone was reached with 200 deaths on the state’s roads recorded this year.  So far in 2023, 217 people have lost their lives on Queensland’s roads.

Police especially focused their attention on vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians, cyclists, e-scooter riders and motorcyclists.

This was combined with enforcement of the fatal five of speeding, drink and drug driving, seat-belts, fatigue and driving distracted (including mobile phones).

During Operation Spring Break 2023, police conducted 47,870 Roadside Breath Tests (RBTs) and 2435 Roadside Drug Tests (RDTs) with 623 drink drivers and 547 drug drivers detected. Police issued 3904 tickets for speeding tickets, 122 tickets for drivers or passengers not wearing a seatbelt and 81 tickets for drivers using their mobile phone.

Quotes attributable to Police Minister Mark Ryan:

“As we gear up for the final school term of the year, I do urge all motorists to remember school zones will be back in operation from tomorrow so please slow down and drive safely,” Minister Ryan said.

“With over 2600 infringement notices issued by police officers in school zones in Queensland in just over two months this year.  It is a concerning figure when you consider these are areas where young children need to be safe and protected.

“Police have been out and about over the spring holidays conducting enforcement action as part of road safety operations across Queensland.

“We know one loss of life on our roads is one too many, but tragically there have been horrific incidents during September – many of which could have easily been prevented.

“Please drive responsibly and keep yourself, your passengers and all other road users safe.”

Quotes attributable to Acting Assistant Commissioner Chris Stream, Road Policing

“With the loss of nine people in road crashes in such a short time across Queensland, this is a confronting figure for not just police, but should also be for our community.

“There are eight families whose lives have tragically changed and a left to grieve the loss of a loved one in such sad circumstances.

“We need motorists to listen to our warnings and to heed our advice about following road rules.  Our enforcement is aimed at saving lives and identifying driving behaviour that put other road users at risk.

“Sadly during this time we had already reached a tragic milestone of over 200 people who have lost their lives on our roads and now this number is climbing.

“Road safety is a partnership between police and the community, and we appeal to drivers to continue to drive responsibly and be considerate of all road users.”

“I continue to appeal to motorist to continue to keep an eye particularly for our vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians, cyclists, e-scooter riders and motorcyclists.”

Further information:

• So far in 2023, 217 people have lost their lives on Queensland’s roads compared with 222 for the same timeframe last year.
• Vulnerable road users include pedestrians, motorbike riders, e-scooter riders, and cyclists (road users who have fewer protections than other road-users and are more likely to die or suffer serious injuries in a crash)
• Research indicates motorcyclists are 30 times more likely to be killed in a crash than people who are in a car.
• Operation Spring Break ran from Saturday, September 16 to Monday, October 2.
• Between April 17 to June 23 there have been 2642 infringement notices issued by police officers in school zones in Queensland. 

Media note: Police Media will distribute body-worn camera vision of enforcement activities during Operation Spring Break

ENDS

Media contacts 

Minister Ryan’s Office: Ph: (07) 3035 8300

Police Media: Ph: (07) 3015 2444