Ipswich Road Policing Unit issues 380 tickets to drivers in lead up to, during snap Covid lockdown

One driver was caught driving at nearly five times the legal limit, clocking a blood-alcohol reading of .246.

Ipswich Road Policing Unit Acting Officer-in-charge Sergeant Sean Whittet said the snap lockdown on Ipswich and surrounding local government areas had reduced traffic on roads. Photo Bev Lacey / The Chronicle

Drivers have been caught flying at nearly double the speed limit, while others chugged alcohol before getting behind the wheel.

Fewer cars on the road has not meant fewer traffic offences, according to Ipswich police who have been on patrol during lockdown.

In the past week, Ipswich Road Policing Unit officers have issued nearly 400 traffic infringement notices.

Acting Officer-in-charge Sergeant Sean Whittet said police had noticed a similar pattern in previous lockdowns.

“The number of cars has certainly decreased with lockdowns but the speeds we’re detecting drivers travelling at has increased,” Sgt Whittet said.

“We noticed at the start of Covid last year that speeds went up, traffic volume went way down.

“Some of those who were travelling were going flat out.”

“That’s concerning for us.”

Officers served 46 tickets to high-range speedsters caught driving well above the speed limit.

“By high speed, we mean that reoffending will attract double demerit points,” Sgt Whittet said.

“The highest detected in this period was a driver going at 120km/hr in a 70km/hr zone.”

The individual was driving at 50km/hr above the speed limit on Redbank Plains Rd.

Sgt Whittet said more people were caught drink driving since the start of Covid, too.

A driver who drove while heavily intoxicated in Goodna was caught at nearly five times the legal limit.

The offender clocked a reading of .246, landing them in the high range drink driving bracket.

Since Thursday evening, Officers have dealt at least 380 infringement notices to drivers caught disobeying the law.

Sgt Whittet said drivers were ticketed for offences involving speed, drink driving, registration issues, defective vehicles, seat belts and using mobile phones.

He said truck drivers had copped tickets for failing to follow heavy vehicle rules.

“(They’ve committed) fatigue-related offences,” he said.

Road Policing officers were called to eight car crashes across the district, with a spate of accidents recorded just before the snap lockdown took hold.

On Tuesday, the Queensland Times reported on five crashes, which took place across Ipswich, Springfield, Redbank, Brassall and Eastern Heights.

“We just want to stress to the community to pay more attention, not speed, don’t drink drive of course and don’t drive tired or distracted,” Sgt Whittet said.

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