Police plead for common sense on our roads over Easter long weekend
Police have released body worn vision of the half-hearted excuses drivers have come up with after they were busted speeding during the first week of the Easter school holidays.
Toowoomba
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Police will be out in force across the Easter long weekend in a bid to drive down the rate of serious and fatal traffic crashes across the Darling Downs and South West Queensland.
Drivers can expect to see extra police patrolling our highways, laying speed traps and conducting random breath tests.
Darling Downs Superintendent Doug McDonald said his officers would be targeting the fatal five, with a keen focus on fatigue, speeding and drink or drugged driving.
“In 2022 there were 59 lives lost in our region,” he said.
“That is the worst tally since 2013. About 33 of those lives were lost on our major highways where we often see speed being a contributing factor.
“Sadly, 38 per cent of those crashes were linked to drugs and alcohol.”
The Queensland Police Service launched Operation Victor Easter on April 1 and it has already nabbed several drivers who were risking their lives and the lives of other road users.
They caught a 54-year-old Roma man doing 144km/h in a 100km/h zone on the Warrego Highway in Brigalow at 10am on April 1.
When asked why he was speeding the man responded, “I want to pee”.
Police issued the man with a traffic infringement notice for exceeding speed limit by more than 40km/h which comes with a $1653 fine and eight demerit points.
On the same day, Lockyer Valley police caught a 28-year-old Harlaxton man doing 168km/h in a 100km/h zone on the Warrego Highway at Grantham about 4pm.
As a result he was issued with that same infringement notice and hit with a $1653 fine and eight demerit points.
Superintendent McDonald pleaded with drivers to slow down and pay close attention to the roads.
“Consider your fatigue when you are driving and make sure you are well prepared for those long trips by taking regular breaks,” he said.
“Always pay absolute attention to what you are doing.
“Driving is not something you can do while distracted by your phone, eating food, drinking, or having a child play up in the back of the car.
“They are all distractions.”
The Queensland Ambulance Service’s Chief Superintendent for the Darling Downs and Southwest Russell Cook echoed Superintendent McDonald’s plea.
He said the region was on track to exceed last year’s traffic toll with paramedics called to 1300 crashes in our region since July 1, 2022.
“Think before speeding, think before texting while behind the wheel and think before having that one extra drink at dinner,” Superintendent Cook said.
“We have seen 50 fatal crashes on Queensland roads this year and I am sure police, firefighters, paramedics and our partners in health do not want to see any more.”
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