Nearly a million fewer RBT stops in Qld compared with five years ago

As the state’s road toll continues to climb, statistics obtained by The Courier-Mail reveal a collapse in breath testing numbers.

The number of people being tested for drink and drug-driving on Queensland roads has dropped by close to a million compared with those five years ago.

As the state’s road toll continues to climb, statistics obtained by The Courier-Mail show the collapse in breath testing numbers as a result of the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic has not recovered across the bulk of the state.

The Opposition has pointed to the well-documented police shortages crippling parts of the force, claiming a lack of strategy over recruitment has led to Queenslanders increasingly at risk of encountering drink-drivers.

While police conducted about 2.2m tests in Queensland in 2018, 2022 figures were more than 36 per cent lower, down to 1.4m – with 1.2m tests conducted through to the end of September this year.

On the Gold Coast, numbers had plummeted from more than 237,000 in 2018, to just 41,000 so far this year and a total of 67,000 in 2022.

While police conducted about 2.2m tests in Queensland in 2018, 2022 figures were more than 36 per cent lower, down to 1.4m. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Ipswich had also seen a drop of about 40,000 tests, while South Brisbane numbers were about half compared with five years ago – down from 228,000 to about 122,000.

Some districts had seen an increase – including Townsville, with more than 93,000 tests conducted this year, and the Wide Bay Burnett area.

Queensland’s road toll hit 268 last year – 49 more people than 2018, and 67 higher than 2019. Tragically, 251 people have died this year on the state’s roads.

Police Minister Mark Ryan last Friday unveiled Operation Victor Mistletoe – a police traffic enforcement operation focusing on drink and drug driving during the party season.

“Extra police will be out in force across Queensland’s highways and road networks in an effort to make sure everyone makes it home safe over the holidays,” he said.

He also said the concentrated operations were brought forward a week to “particularly target end-of-year celebrations in the lead-up to Christmas”.

On the reduced RBT numbers, Mr Ryan said road policing methodologies were an operational matter for police, but he urged motorists to make good decisions on the road over the festive season, as police expected there to be more people travelling to see family and friends.

“Road safety is everyone’s responsibility,” he said.

“Just one fatality is one too many, especially considering every one of those deaths were preventable.”

But Opposition spokesman Dale Last said overstretched police had been let down by the government – with a flow-on effect to Queenslanders.

“With their numbers falling under Labor, police are doing the best they can,” he said.

“The lack of resources means they are constantly stretched and something has got to give.

“The Labor government has created a situation where the risk to Queenslanders from drunk drivers is increasing, and that is unacceptable.”

Earlier this year Mr Ryan announced several recruitment strategies to get more people into the force, including recruiting up to 500 new police from overseas.

Originally published as Nearly a million fewer RBT stops in Qld compared with five years ago