Motorists could have to re-sit rules test for licence renewal in major road safety shakeup

Drivers could soon be forced to take a test when renewing their drivers licence under a major safety proposal being examined by a state government.

Queenslanders could be forced to re-sit a road rules test whenever they renew their licence under a raft of safety measures being proposed by the state’s Labor government.

Main Roads and Transport Minister Mark Bailey on Monday revealed the surprise quiz was one of several proposals the government would look at trialling, alongside an “immediate” licence suspension for high-range speeding and investing more than $216m in road safety investments across the state.

The measures were discussed during a road safety roundtable hosted by the state government earlier this year.

A road safety roundtable hosted by the Queensland state government has suggested trialling a road rules test when motorists renew their licences. Picture: Supplied / Queensland Government

It comes after almost 300 people died on Queensland roads last year – the state’s deadliest road toll in more than a decade.

“We are off to a far better start to the year on our roads in 2023 but we know how quickly that can change,” Mr Bailey said.

Mr Bailey said one of emerging themes at the roundtable was driver education – raising the potential of a “road rule refresher”.

One of the items on the official list of 10 measures to be considered by the government is a suggestion of ensuring drivers are up to date on road rules by developing and trialling “engaging” content on road rule changes and safety issues.

These could be incorporated into the process of online licence renewals.

Other measures discussed were immediately suspending a licence for high-range speeding offences and trialling new technology to identify and target dangerous behaviours like mobile phone use and tailgating on roads.

Others include rolling out renewed learner licence courses and road safety programs for youth across the state.

Mr Bailey said harsher penalties for high-range speeding offences were raised in response to last year’s high number of fatal crashes where speed was a contributing factor.

“We are committed to reducing the devastation of road trauma on our communities and protecting the people who use our road network,” he said.

A staggering 299 lives were lost on Queensland roads last year – the highest number since 2012, when 280 people died in fatal crashes across the state.

A report prepared by the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) revealed there have been 60 fatalities on Queensland roads this year to date.

That number is 20 per cent fewer than for the same period for the previous year, where 75 people died in fatal crashes over four months.

Originally published as Motorists could have to re-sit rules test for licence renewal in major road safety shakeup