Police ramp up operations targeting 4WDs these holidays

Four-wheel drive vehicles will be targeted over the holiday period as police ramp up operations in a north Brisbane region.

Four-wheel drive vehicles (4WD) will be targeted over the holiday period as Bribie Island police ramp up operations in the region.

Acting Senior Sergeant Peter Thompson said officers were recently in North St, Woorim targeting the “road worthiness and safety of 4WD vehicles accessing Ocean Beach”. Snr Sgt Thompson said officers would be out in force in December and January with plans for similar operations around beach safety and off-road vehicles.

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“This was a multi-agency activity with the Department of Transport and Main Roads as well as Queensland National Parks and Wildlife,” Sen Sgt Thompson said.

“There’s a lot of planning around the Australia Day weekend especially.”

With low tides expected for that weekend we are anticipating high volumes of traffic along the main Ocean Beach.

“Police will undertake speed enforcement, remind beach motorists that the same road rules apply both for manner of driving, wearing seatbelts and complying with the speed limit.”

It comes a week after environmentalist Diane Oxenford called for more controlled access to Ocean Beach to stem erosion and protect nesting grounds of endangered turtles.

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Mrs Oxenford added: “From an environmental perspective, yes, 4WDs should not be driving on beaches.”

Alongside beach patrols, Bribie Island police will also be participating in a state wide road safety campaign focusing on the fatal five — distraction and inattention, speeding, drink and drug driving, failure to wear a seatbelt and driving while fatigued.

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Sen Sgt Thompson said Police did 241 RBTs and 29 drug tests in the North St operation, issuing 25 infringement notices and finding two drivers without a driver’s licence.

“The focus of our enforcement activities is on reducing road trauma and minimising the frequency of serious traffic crashes,” he said. “We’re aiming for an injury free December.”

Police will also be cracking down on pedestrian and bicycle safety.

Snr Sgt Thompson said these issues were specifically relevant to the region, especially with the increase of tourist activity on the island during the school holidays.