Police issue sobering warning as vision released of girl crammed in ute

Queensland Police have issued a sobering road toll projection as they slam ‘stupid’ drivers for risking lives on the road.

A seven-year-old girl has been discovered unrestrained behind the passenger seat of her parents’ single cab utility as it sped along a busy Queensland motorway.

The vision, releases by Queensland police, comes as officers plead for drivers to stop making “absolutely stupid decisions” on the road as they warn the road toll could surpass 300 this year.

As of Monday, 50 lives have been lost on Queensland roads compared with 32 at the same time last year.

Acting Chief Superintendent Ray Rohweder said police were fed up with the “stupid stuff” drivers were doing that were costing or could cost lives on the road.

The ute was pulled over by police. Picture: Queensland Police via NCA NewsWire

One of the most shocking things he said police had seen recently was finding a young girl crammed in the back of a ute while her parents sped along the Ipswich Motorway on February 28.

“Some of the things we see, there is no answer to it,” Superintendent Rohweder said.

“If that vehicle had have been involved in a crash, the consequences (would have been) just horrific.

“The two people were supposed to be looking after her safety. They did just the opposite.

“When we see things like that, combined with the current road toll … People making absolutely stupid decisions, we become very concerned with what’s happening on our roads.”

They found the young girl unrestrained and in the back of the ute. Picture: Queensland Police via NCA NewsWire

It comes as police reveal an average one-in-six drivers have been caught with illicit drugs in their system while behind the wheel.

“We are currently conducting Operation Anaconda. Over the next three months we’re targeting people who elect to consume illicit drugs and drive,” Superintendent Rohweder said.

“We’ve done 1948 tests since March 1, and we’re finding one-in-six drivers are affected by drugs.

“That’s a decision, whether logical or otherwise, to consume drugs and then drive without caring about their own safety or that of other road users … It’s really terrible.”

Superintendent Rohweder said if Queenslanders didn’t have “tough conversations” around the barbecue and kitchen tables about making good decisions on the road, the state could be staring down the barrel of its worst road toll since 2009.

“I hate using numbers. This is about lives lost … These are people who were in the prime of their lives who have had their lives cut short,” he said.

“If trends continue we could see 300 lives lost this year. It’s been well over a decade (since the last time).”

Originally published as Police issue sobering warning as vision released of girl crammed in ute