Wide Bay Burnett police launch operation to stem devastating road toll

Police have launched a campaign to staunch the flow of blood from a Qld community where 22 people have already died in 2025.

Wide Bay Burnett district police officially launched Operation Xray Precession on Friday in the wake of a shocking road toll that claimed 22 lives in the first five months of 2025.

Those lives were lost in 17 crashes on Wide Bay Burnett district roads, more than any other district in Queensland, and represented a 60 per cent increase in lives lost compared to the same period last year.

In some locations in the wider Bundaberg area, the risk of being involved in an injury traffic crash increased 220 per cent in 2025.

Wide Bay Burnett District Officer Acting Superintendent Brad Inskip said the trajectory had to stop.

“Every life lost is one too many, and these fatalities have shaped our increased presence on the roads,” Acting Superintendent Inskip said.

“We have a zero-tolerance approach towards unsafe driving, but this operation is not about issuing tickets and locking people up. This is about educating the community and saving lives.

Beloved South Burnett crash victim, 16-year-old Lucy Needer.

“In addition to enforcement activities, with the assistance of the Road Policing Group, the operation will really focus on community engagement and having real conversations with drivers.

“These next six months will be a real concerted effort from us, and reaching out to the community to try and stop these figures for the calendar year.

“Every police officer in our community has witnessed road trauma, which leaves a lasting impact, and I’ll be encouraging officers to share their stories and experiences with drivers across the district.”

The acting superintendent said officers will be upping their community involvement, including attending schools and hosting “coffee with a cop” community events.

“So far this year, Wide Bay Burnett police have directly engaged with more than 240,000 drivers to have conversations about staying safe on our roads.

“This number doesn’t include conversations had with passengers or any road safety engagements had in the course of other duties.”

Cyd Hill was one of the three young victims of a horrific triple fatal in Grosvenor, in the North Burnett.

“We will continue doing everything we can to stop road trauma, but road safety is everyone’s responsibility and every decision made on the road has the power to save or take a life.

“We have mapped the fatal crashes on our roads and continue to see high risk behaviours including speed, distraction, drink or drug driving, driving tired and seatbelts – all of which are proven contributors to serious and fatal crashes.”

Unsafe use of prescription medications is a big contributor to the rising road toll, the superintendent said.

“We’re in a location where we have the Bruce Highway going through the middle, but we also have a lot of really popular regional roads that are well made.

“People take those opportunities to try and push a little bit further.”

“Every crash and every life lost impacts the family, friends, co-workers and school mates of those involved, in addition to the attending emergency services personnel, witnesses and the wider community.

“Throughout this operation we will be looking to recruit as many road users as we can – drivers, riders, passengers, and pedestrians – who will stand with us in making our roads safer.

Bundaberg crash victim Matty Nilsen.

“Particularly as we look towards the busy school holiday period, drivers are reminded to drive to the local conditions, stop, rest and arrive alive.

“Police are committed to reducing the trauma on our roads, but we can’t do that without your help.

“By working together with the community, we can all play a part in making our roads safer for everyone.”

The Queensland Police Service is committed to reducing the number of lives lost on our roads.

Data shows that serious crashes can be significantly reduced when drivers recognise and avoid the ‘Fatal Five’ behaviours: speeding, drink and drug driving, not wearing seatbelts, fatigue and distraction.

Originally published as Wide Bay Burnett police launch operation to stem devastating road toll