Patience wearing ‘very thin’ at life-risking speedsters

More than 40km/h above speed limit puts law-abiding drivers at risk because ‘they have the misfortune of sharing the same stretch of road’

Mackay police say they are fed up at motorists driving over the speed limit.

MACKAY police officers said their patience is wearing “very thin” at motorists speeding while they work to reduce trauma on our roads.

Mackay Crime Prevention Unit Senior Constable Steve Smith said a Beaconsfield woman, 30, was caught allegedly driving 141km/h in a 100km/h speed zone at Bloomsbury yesterday afternoon.

He said a 27-year-old Middlemount man was allegedly travelling at 146km/h in a 100km/h zone along Fitzroy Development Rd in Middlemount less than two hours later.

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Sen-Constable Smith said both drivers were fined $1245, lost eight demerit pints and would have their driver’s licences suspended for six months.

“Travelling more than 40km/h above the posted speed limit in any speed zone leaves virtually no chance of avoiding significant damage, injuries or worse if the unexpected was to happen,” he said.

“Decisions made to travel at this speed place innocent and law-abiding drivers (and their passengers) at risk simply because they have the misfortune of sharing the same stretch of road at the same time.”

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He said there had been many recent serious traffic crashes and it was disheartening for speed enforcement patrols to see such high speeds.

“I imagine it is equally as disheartening for law-abiding motorists,” Sen-Constable Smith said.

“Our focus on catching speeding drivers is as strong as ever.

“We will continue to remind all motorists that being caught by police for speeding is not the worst outcome for a driver – far more terrible outcomes exist.”

Mackay police encouraged all motorists to drive as if a police officer was nearby watching.

“There is in fact a good chance that this will be the case,” Sen-Constable Smith said.

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