Big surge in speeding despite fewer cars on the road

There has been a huge spike in speeding in Queensland since the coronavirus lockdown started, with some drivers caught doing disturbingly high speeds, despite a 30 per cent reduction in traffic on our roads.

Despite fewer vehicles on the roads in recent weeks due to coronavirus police have seen a 26 per cent spike in speeding in Queensland.

Road Policing Command assistant commissioner Mike Keating said officers had also reported disturbingly high speeds across the state over the past month.

Shock spike in Queensland road toll

These include a driver clocked doing 115km/h in a 60km/h zone on Deception Bay Rd, Deception Bay, and one caught doing 156km/h in a 100km/h zone on the Ipswich Motorway, Goodna.

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“Despite a 30 per cent reduction of vehicles on Queensland roads, we are seeing a significant increase in the proportion of speeding drivers,” Assistant Commissioner Keating said.

“It is very concerning how often our officers and speed camera systems are detecting exceptionally high speeds.

“The risks of speeding have not changed and the faster you go, the more consequence there is if you hit something or someone else.”

In the past five weeks, the overall rate of detection (per 1000 vehicles monitored) for operating speed cameras increased by an average of 26 per cent.

The rate of speed camera trailer detections jumped 74 per cent, fixed speed cameras at traffic lights increased 84 per cent and fixed point to point cameras climbed 124 per cent.

Assistant Commissioner Keating said the sharp increase in speed detections could be associated with a misconception of reduced police activity.

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Motorists busted for speeding at a rate of one every 30 second

“Police are still proactively patrolling road networks and our fixed and mobile trailer cameras are still active to ensure motorists were obeying the road rules,” he said.

“The road rules in Queensland have not changed in any way and motorists exceeding the speed limit can expect to see enforcement action taken by police.”

Hall of shame

• 115km/h in a 60km/h zone on Deception Bay Road at Deception Bay – April 24, 2020

• 140km/h in a 90km/h zone on Maroochydore Road at Forest Glen – April 23, 2020

• 147km/h in a 100km//h zone on Bruce Highway at Maryborough – April 23, 2020

• 156km/h in a 100km/h zone on Ipswich Motorway at Goodna – April 22, 2020

• 133km/h in 110km/h zone on M1 at Ormeau – April 22, 2020

• 146km/h in 100km/h zone on Bruce Highway, Bernaraby – April 13, 2020

• 112km/h in 80km/h zone on Teviot Road, South Maclean – April 13, 2020