Top cop’s concern as Queensland P-plate drivers fined $19m for speeding in a year

A record amount in fines was collected from this group of drivers last financial year.

Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski. Picture: Annette Dew

A record $19 million in speeding fines was collected from P-plate drivers last financial year as the state’s top cop revealed his concerns about a “core group of young people” committing serious crimes in vehicles.

Exclusive data obtained by The Sunday Mail show 41,885 infringements were issued to P-platers in 2023-24, with fines sitting just under $19m at $18.8m - a $2m jump from what was raked in the year before.

In comparison, a total of 867,529 speeding fines were issued to all categories of drivers across the state last year.

The previous year, 40,804 P-platers were hit with speeding fines, raking in $16.8m for the state. A total of 806,228 fines were issued to all drivers that year.

The state government significantly increased fines last year, with drivers nabbed speeding 1-10km over the limit being hit with a $287 fine, compared with $183 the previous year. In the same time frame, those busted doing more than 40km over the limit had fines jump from $1286 to $1653.

Harrison ‘Harry’ Payne was killed in a 4WD crash on Bribie Island’s Woorim Beach in 2021. Picture: Facebook

Speaking ahead of Sunday’s World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims Queensland Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski called for young people to take more care on the roads.

More than 250 people have lost their lives on local roads this year, including 15 children.

“We know that even though there are less young offenders over the last 10 years there are more offences and more dangerous offences for young people, (including) a core group of young offenders that continually commit really serious crimes including in vehicles,” he said.

Kent Payne, who lost his son Harrison ‘Harry’ Payne in a car crash that happened with a P-plater at the wheel said he wanted young drivers to “own their own behaviour”.

“Slow down, don’t show off in front of your mates, understand what can happen,” he said.

Lynden Joshua Roby was sentenced to three years’ jail, suspended after nine months for the dangerous operation of a vehicle causing the death of Harry after the crash on Bribie Island’s Woorim Beach in 2021.

Mr Payne said he was “concerned” about the high number of speeding fines being issued to P-platers.

“There has to be more training, education and awareness generally,” he said.

Prior to the October state election, Mr Payne and his family met with now Premier David Crisafulli and called for compulsory supervised driving for P-platers.

“We want to introduce an hours program,” he said.

“We know there needs to be more education with P-platers whether it’s on the beach or off-roading.

Despite the passage of time, Mr Payne says life remains difficult without Harry.

“(Harry’s sister) just had a little baby, we are grandparents now…our (granddaughter) was born four weeks ago, Harry will never meet her. When you think about moments like that, it’s just unfair and unacceptable,” he said.

“May next year will be four years but it feels like yesterday that he was taken from us. The pain never goes away.” 

Originally published as Top cop’s concern as Queensland P-plate drivers fined $19m for speeding in a year