Southside man caught drink driving, speeding on Mary Valley Hwy

A Southside man has been slugged with a stiff four-figure fine after being caught speeding along a regional main road while over the limit.

A Southside man has been stripped of his licence and been slugged with a stiff four-figure fine after being caught speeding along a regional main road while over the limit.

A 46-year-old Southside man has been stripped of his licence and fined more than $1700 after being caught speeding along the Mary Valley Highway while drink driving.

Police said in a media release on Monday the man was caught speeding along the road at Long Flat, 8km south of Gympie, about 8.30pm on Thursday, April 4.

He was travelling at 155km/h in a 100km/h zone.

A breath test then returned a positive blood alcohol reading of 0.082, above the legal limit of 0.05.

He was fined $1780, lost eight demerit points from his licence, was banned from driving for six months, and ordered to appear at Gympie Magistrates Court on May 2, 2024.

Police said in a media release the man was caught travelling at 155km/h in a 100km/h zone.

The incident happened only days after a 21-year-old Southside woman was caught by police doing 128km/h in an 80km/h on the Bruce Hwy at Tinana, and a 27-year-old Southside motorcyclist was picked up doing 118km/h in a 60km/h zone on the Bruce Hwy in Gympie.

Police said in the release speeding was a “major contributor to road fatalities” and “police cannot emphasise enough the importance of obeying the road rules and adhering to the speed limits”.

“In this situation, with the addition of alcohol in the drivers system, it easily could have resulted in this becoming the next local fatality statistic on our roads,” police said.

“Be alert, keep a safe distance behind the vehicle in front of you, adhere to the road rules and speed limits.

“If you are drinking, plan ahead for a safe ride home with a designated driver/taxi or arrange to stay at a mates place overnight.

“Think before you drive, it could save your life.”

Originally published as Southside man caught drink driving, speeding on Mary Valley Hwy