Gold Coast police launch winter school holiday road safety blitz

An 18-year-old man who was busted allegedly driving almost double the speed limit gave a bizarre reason to officers to explain his speeding.

An 18-year-old man pulled over by Gold Coast police this week told an officer he was travelling almost double the speed limit because he needed to go to the toilet.

The driver of a grey sedan was intercepted in Coombabah on June 24 after officers caught him allegedly travelling 94km/h in a 50km/h zone.

When asked if he had a lawful or emergency reason for speeding, the man replied “not really, besides I really need to go to the toilet.”

“That is not an urgent or lawful reason mate,” the officer responded.

The man was fined for speeding, failing to display legible P-plates and driving a high performance vehicle without exemption.

On the same day a 19-year-old man was fined by police for failing to wear a helmet while riding an e-scooter on Burrows St in Biggera Waters.

A man was fined by police for failing to wear a helmet while riding an e-scooter on Burrows St in Biggera Waters. Picture: Queensland Police

An 84-year-old man was also fined for failing to stop at a red light on Elkhorn Ave in Surfers Paradise.

The incidents were revealed as police launched a school holiday road safety blitz, Operation X-Ray Cold Snap.

The winter school holidays are typically a busy period on Queensland roads with many families travelling across the state, police said.

Officers will target speeding and drivers impaired by drugs, alcohol or fatigue along highways, in regional towns and at tourist hotspots.

Acting Chief Superintendent for Road Policing Garrath Channells said officers would be taking a zero- tolerance approach to poor driving behaviour during the operation.

“One hundred and thirty-six people have tragically lost their lives on Queensland roads this year alone, with many of these fatalities the result of speeding or dangerous driving,” he said.

The operation will also focus on vulnerable road users including motorcycle and bicycle riders, e-scooter users and pedestrians such as children, runners and parents with prams.

Forensic Crash Unit Acting Senior Sergeant Patricia Brennan said the consequences of poor decisions on the road were devastating and long lasting.

“Some of the most difficult incidents we respond to involve crashes with vulnerable road users

“Fatigue severely impairs response times and can have deadly consequences,” she said.

“Please take the time to rest, revive and arrive alive.”

The operation runs until July 13.

Originally published as Gold Coast police launch winter school holiday road safety blitz