Police target beach drivers

IPSWICH four-wheel-drive adventurers will need to keep a cool head while driving on the beach this summer.

IPSWICH four-wheel-drive adventurers will need to keep a cool head while driving on the beach this summer.

National Parks Minister Steven Miles said driving on sand, where permitted, required special care and drivers had to be prepared for the ever-changing nature of shifting sands.

"Beaches are not highways; people fish, swim, play games and children run along them so drivers must be on alert at all times and drive safely," Dr Miles said.

Police will be patrolling the popular beach driving routes heavily over the coming weeks.

Officers from the Sunshine Coast and Road Policing Command were conducting breath tests and saliva drug tests at Teewah Beach, north of Noosa, yesterday.

Sunshine Coast District Officer Superintendent Darryl Johnson said police are determined to make our roads safe for all road users.

"Over the past week police across the Sunshine Coast District have conducted in excess of 6,700 random breath tests with 26 drink drivers taken off our roads, as well as 16 drug drivers," he said.

"We have also issued 550 traffic infringement notices. Clearly these numbers are unacceptable with motorists continuing to undertake dangerous and risky behaviours on Sunshine Coast District roads."