Police crack down on speeding, drink driving amid Easter road safety blitz

A Queensland government operation targeting road safety over the Easter holiday period has so far seen more than 1000 infringement notices handed down to drivers.

Speaking at a press conference in Brisbane on Sunday morning, Acting Inspector Gareth Bosley said police had already detected more than 100 drink drivers, over 150 drug drivers, and issued almost 1000 speeding tickets across the state.

So far this year, 68 lives have been lost on Queensland’s roads.Credit: Matt Dennien

“These are all issues that lead to inevitable crashes,” Bosley said.

So far this year, 68 lives have been lost on Queensland’s roads – 11 more than the same time last year.

According to crash data, there are higher incidences of speeding, drink and drug driving, failure to wear a seatbelt properly, distraction and fatigue over holiday periods.

Addressing the number of drug drivers, Bosley said the tests could detect a range of drugs, including methamphetamine, cannabis and cocaine.

The two typically detected are methamphetamine and cannabis, he said.

The minister for transport and main roads, Bart Mellish, said this year’s fatality figures were already too high, with “countless other” people injured.

“Every life lost represents an irreplaceable absence felt by their family during this Easter holiday time,” he said.

“Long weekends are meant to be enjoyed, but if you’re going to drink alcohol this Easter weekend, then please – don’t drive.”

Ahead of the Easter break, the government re-ran its “Drinking? Never Drive” campaign to remind motorists of the consequences of unlawful and irresponsible driving.

The campaign coincides with heightened police enforcement activities, which will also run over the Anzac Day and Labour Day long weekends.

“I remind road users, police are out on the roads in strength over this Easter break and, in fact, the entirety of the school holiday period, with the sole intent of saving people from dying,” Bosley said.

“Do the right thing. Look after your safety, look after the safety of your family in the car with you, your friends and the other road users who are on the road around you.”

Mellish said that from an infrastructure point of view, the state government was “doing all that we can to make our roads safer”.

During the press conference, it was reported that a man was fighting for life in a Gold Coast hospital after a car ploughed into a tree at Pacific Pines.

The single vehicle crash occurred on Binstead Way and was reported at about 10.30am.

The man was transported to Gold Coast University Hospital with critical injuries.