Queensland Police ramp up patrols during Easter school holiday break

Police will be out in force across Queensland over the Easter long weekend, ramping up patrols and being on the hunt for drivers breaking traffic rules. Here’s what they’ll be targeting.

Drink drivers and speeding motorists will have nowhere to hide from police this Easter as crews ramp up patrols to try and ensure everyone makes it home to their family.

Starting Friday, Queensland Police will increase their presence on the state’s roads, conduct breath testing, drug testing and deploy “all available” speed cameras in an effort to keep the road toll down.

So far this year, 56 people have died on Queensland roads, which is 16 less than the same time last year.

But Acting Assistant Commissioner Chris Stream said that number should be zero.

“We will do everything we can to prevent those people that aren’t going to make the right choices from hurting other people on the roads,” Mr Stream said.

Queensland Police Acting Chief Superintendent Christopher Stream. – Picture: Richard Walker

“Your focus this Easter should be on chocolate, it should not be on visiting somebody in hospital or attending to funeral details.”

Mr Stream said motorcyclist deaths were sadly over represented in the statistics, with 20 riders killed so far this year.

He said that was partly because of an uptake in former riders getting back on the road with reduced skills, but also because of “stupid” choices.

“In some cases, some of those deaths this year have involved really stupid decisions. We’ve seen motorcyclists killed who haven’t been wearing protective gear including a helmet.”

Police charged a 26-year-old man and 23-year-old man with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, after allegedly driving at speed while swerving on the beach at North Stradbroke Island.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Assistant Commissioner Josh Cawcutt said Easter was a “considerably busy” time of the year for firefighters who were confronted with horrible sights.

“Firefighters would rather be doing pretty well anything else than trying to remove a vehicle from around a damaged body,” Mr Cawcutt said.

A 25-year-old Bracken Ridge man was observed going 155km in a 100km zone along Gateway Motorway in Belmont on March 12 last year.

Queensland Ambulance Service Assistant Commissioner David Hartley reiterated this, saying it caused lifelong consequences for everyone involved.

“The impact a fatal crash has on the family of those involved in the crash, but also on the emergency services that respond to that … could have lifetime changing consequence,” Mr Hartley said.

Police Minister Mark Ryan said this Easter should be one of celebration, not sadness.

The operation will run across the Easter and school holiday period.