Deaths from unlicensed drivers surge as RACQ demands vehicle impoundments

Unlicensed drivers have been involved in crashes that killed 61 people in 18 months, prompting calls for vehicle impoundment to stop the carnage.

There are calls for the vehicles of unlicensed drivers to be impounded. (File picture)

Sixty-one people have died in crashes involving unlicensed drivers in Queensland in 18 months, with the number surging 75 per cent in five years.

Forty-two people were killed last year, with a further 19 dying in the first half of this year.

In 2024 there were also 25,135 fines issued for unlicensed driving.

Queensland’s peak motoring body is calling for the vehicles of unlicensed drivers to be impounded or immobilised to help halt the carnage.

RACQ road safety and technical manager Joel Tucker warned the toll could have been far worse, with 752 serious injuries also involving motorists without a valid licence.

“Queensland is fortunate the death toll wasn’t higher in 2024, given the sheer number of serious injury crashes involving unlicensed drivers,” Mr Tucker said.

“These figures raise serious questions about how offenders continue to get behind the wheel and put innocent lives at risk.”

So far this year there has been a total of 282 fatalities on Queensland roads, nine more than this time last year.

The state is on track to record its highest road toll in 16 years.

Areas with the most fatalities were the North Coast region (77), Southern and South Eastern Region (both 44) and Brisbane (42).

“It’s clear we have a culture that openly flouts road rules – and fines alone aren’t working,” Mr Tucker said.

“If people have lost their licence, or never had one, we cannot allow them to keep driving – why aren’t we impounding or immobilising these vehicles?

“In 2024, for every one death in a crash, there was 28 people hospitalised. But when we look at crashes involving unlicensed drivers, that ratio worsened to one death for every 18 hospitalisations – a stark indication of the deadly risk these drivers pose to the public.”

Through its Get Serious on Road Safety campaign, RACQ is calling for increased police visibility and tougher enforcement, including stronger impoundment and immobilisation laws for repeat offenders.

“Driving without a licence isn’t just a legal issue – it’s a major risk to the lives of Queenslanders,” Mr Tucker said.

“To reduce the risk of unlicensed driving, the Government needs to take stronger action to stop extreme and repeat offenders getting behind the wheel.”

Transport and Main Roads Statistics also show up until June 30, 2025 there were 32 fatals involving speeding drivers, 24 involving drug drivers and 19 involving drink-drivers.

Originally published as Deaths from unlicensed drivers surge as RACQ demands vehicle impoundments