Police conducted more than 8,100 breath tests and issued more than 860 traffic infringement notices (TINs) as part of road safety efforts conducted throughout the spring school holiday period.
Operation Whiskey Spring Break ran for around three weeks from September 14 to October 4, adopting a zero-tolerance approach towards dangerous driving.
During this period, police detected and charged 49 drivers with drink driving and 20 motorists with drug driving.
There were also 576 motorists who were issued fines for speeding and 12 people were fined for seat belt offences.
On October 3, police sighted a vehicle driving at 164km/h in a 100km/h zone along the Dawson Highway traveling from Banana towards Biloela. It is alleged the 17-year-old Biloela driver also had a mobile phone on his lap and unaccompanied as a learner driver.
The teenage boy was issued with a TIN for failing to display legible L plates ($258), learner driving motor vehicle not under direction of authorised supervisor ($258), using hand-held mobile phone ($1,209) and exceeding 100km/h (default speed limit) by more than 40km/h (Type 2) ($1,854), worth $3,579 in total, 18 demerit points and a 6-month license suspension.
A 33-year-old Bahrs Scrub man was also detected travelling 151km/h in a 100km/h zone traveling north bound on the Bruce Highway between Granite Creek Forestry Road and Logan Road in Gindoran on September 22.
He was issued a $1854 fine and 8 demerit points for exceeding 100km/hr (default speed limit) by more than 40km/h (Type 2).
With drink and drug driving being one of the leading causes of fatalities on Queensland roads, officers conducted more than 8,100 roadside breath tests as part of the road safety operation.
On September 15, a 64-year-old Mount Morgan man allegedly recorded a breath test reading of 0.22 BAC and was issued a notice to appear for one count each of driving UIL and driving a motor vehicle without a driver license.
The man’s license was disqualified on the spot and subjected to an interlock period.
He is due to appear before Rockhampton Magistrates Court on October 21.
Tragically, over the past three weeks, two people died in fatal traffic crashes in the Capricornia district, bringing the total road fatalities for the district this year to 18 lives (as of October 4).
Capricornia District Officer Acting Superintendent Mark Burgess says speeding, inattention, drink and drug driving, fatigue and lack of seatbelt use continue to be the most common killers on Queensland roads.
“Any time your attention isn’t on the road, you are putting yourself, your passengers, and everyone on the road around you at risk,” said Acting Superintendent Burgess.
“Driving responsibly and safely is every motorist’s responsibility, and we are committed to ensuring all Queenslanders adopt safer driving practices on our roads and make it to their next destination safely.”
The road toll in Queensland as at October 9 currently stands at 221 lives lost, which is one more than the previous year.
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