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But will drivers be treating those beaches with the same level of caution with which they treat roads?

That’s one of the questions Levi Anderson is hoping to answer, as Chief Investigator on a new study from the University of the Sunshine Coast and Motor Accident Insurance Commission’s Road Safety Research Collaboration.

“In our previous research, we learned that peer influence and the belief they would not be caught by police were key motivating factors for drivers engaging in risky behaviour on the beach,” Mr Anderson said.

“This time we’re digging deeper into what drivers perceive as the differences between beach and road environments, to understand why so many people offend on the beach but not on the road.”

The Road Safety Research Collaboration is seeking participants who have driven on the Noosa Northshore, Teewah, Rainbow, or Double Island beaches in the past five years, to take part in a survey about their experiences there.

Mr Anderson says understanding how people think about driving on these beaches, is crucial to preventing future tragedies.

“Serious crashes and injuries are becoming more prevalent on beaches. We saw this illustrated late last year with a fatal crash involving a young foreign driver,” Mr Anderson said.

“People need to remember apply the road rules, drive to the conditions, don’t exceed the speed limits and be vigilant; because unlike our roads, the beach’s surface changes daily and hazards can appear out of nowhere.

“We hope this research will help us further understand beach driving behaviour so we can assist with the prevention of offending and preserving life on our beaches.”

Eligible people who’d like to take part in the survey,