‘Concerning’ spike in drug drivers caught in week-long road safety crack down

Police say motorists are putting lives at risk after officers from the Darling Downs, Southwest and Lockyer Valley pinned dozens of drugged drivers during a road safety operation.

A shocking number of drugged drivers were detected on our roads in the past week leading to calls for motorists to have greater care for their safety and that of other road users.

Queensland Police Service Acting Inspector Craig Berry said 33 motorists were detected driving under the influence of drugs during a combined operation taking in the Darling Down, Lockyer Valley and Southwest Queensland from May to June 2.

“That is an incredibly concerning figure to think about on our country roads,” he said.

“It is not just your life at risk when you get behind the wheel affected by drugs or alcohol, other motorists are also at risk.”

“Police have spent the week targeting highways and roads, maintaining a highly visible presence for motorists.”

Police also issued 279 traffic infringement notices of which 129 for speeding, 21 for disqualified or unlicenced drivers and 26 for unregistered vehicles.

“We have spent the week targeting highways and roads, maintaining a highly visible presence for motorists,” Insp Berry said.

“Too many people are killed and seriously injured each year on Queensland roads as a result of drug driving.”

“Everyone needs to get home safely.”

Sadly two people died on Toowoomba roads in the past week, including a 24-year-old Pittsworth man who died after his Triumph Daytona motorbike collided with a Subaru Forester before coming into contact with an oncoming Mazda CX-3 at Southbrook on Sunday afternoon.

Both drivers and passengers inside the two cars were uninjured.

A nurse who was off-duty at the time attempted to assist the man but he sadly died at the scene.

Emergency services were earlier called to the scene of a two-vehicle crash on Cecil Plains Road and Moonie Highway, on Friday, just after 4pm.

A maroon Ford Falcon sedan and white Toyota LandCruiser were driving northeast along the highway at Weir River, east of Cambridge Crossing Road, when it is believed the crash occurred.

A Newtown woman, aged 65, was driving the Ford.

She was trapped in the wreckage in a critical condition and died at the scene.