Police ramp up operations to coincide with Queensland Road Safety Week

Police are out in force on the roads around the Townsville district to crack down on drivers doing the wrong thing. Find out why.

Townsville Officer in Charge of Townsville Highway Patrol Senior Sergeant Robert Nalder has urged motorists to work together as "one team" this Queensland Road Safety Week. Picture: Leighton Smith.

With the majority of fatal crashes on Australian roads linked to alcohol, police are stepping up their random breath testing efforts to crack down on boozy motorists to coincide with 2024’s Queensland Road Safety Week.

Every year, more than 1,200 people are killed and 44,000 seriously injured on Australian roads, with 10 lives already lost this year in the Townsville region, up three on this time last year but lower than the peak of 17 road deaths in 2021.

A joint initiative of the Department of Transport and Main Roads and the Queensland Police Service, this year’s Queensland Road Safety Week (QRSW) will run from Monday, August 26 to Friday, August 30, under the theme “One Team”.

The service is urging motorists to observe the ‘fatal five’, the top contributors to deaths ont he road - speeding, drink driving, failing to wear seatbelts, and driving while tired or distracted.

Townsville Officer in Charge of Townsville Highway Patrol Senior Sergeant Robert Nalder has urged motorists to work together as "one team" this Queensland Road Safety Week. Picture: Leighton Smith.

Townsville Officer in Charge of Townsville Highway Patrol Senior Sergeant Robert Nalder warned motorists that police would be out in force throughout the district with more static roadside breath testing and mobile patrols.

“If we can get everybody to work as one and change their behaviour, the way in which they drive and the way in which they act on the roads, we will be able to reduce that road trauma,” Sergeant Nalder said.

“Drink driving is the number one contributing factor in 30 per cent of fatal crashes. One in four drivers killed on Australian roads. What we need is for people to take that Plan B if they’re going to drink alcohol … get someone else to drive or take alternative measures.”

He said on average police were detecting drunk drivers about one in every 45 tests, but that number increased to about one in three positive tests for drug drivers.

Police were breath testing drivers on Stuart Drive, Wulguru on Monday to kick off Queensland Road Safety Week. Picture: Leighton Smith.

“Drink driving is not a huge problem that we have here in Townsville, but drug driving is also starting to get a bit of an issue where we’re doing more tests and we’re finding more people,” he said.

Speed was another risk factor under the spotlight, with police officers recently nabbing drivers travelling well over the speed limit.

On Sir Leslie Theiss Drive, a P-plate driver was caught doing 45km/h over the speed limit, while another Ring Rd driver was almost 50km/h over.

Townsville Officer in Charge of Townsville Highway Patrol Senior Sergeant Robert Nalder has urged motorists to work together as "one team" this Queensland Road Safety Week. Picture: Leighton Smith.

“The fines are horrific … and a loss of eight points and six months disqualification … and they’re there to try and remind people to slow down.”

Drivers were also encouraged to wear their seat belts, stay off their phones, and to take a break every two hours if they were covering long distances. .

Originally published as Police ramp up operations to coincide with Queensland Road Safety Week