Brisbane police are out on the roads in force as the school holidays come to an end to ensure road users get home safely.
Motorists are urged to remember these holidays for the right reason by following the rules and to be aware of the "fatal five" which include fatigue, speeding, drinking and drug driving, distraction, and seatbelt use.
This follows large scale road safety activities conducted by local police throughout the holidays in a bid to decrease road crashes and any loss of lives.
The enforcement activities were conducted with both marked and unmarked police vehicles.
Brisbane police also conducted one of their largest simultaneous traffic enforcement operations in recent years during these school holidays.
Across the city, more than 200 police from highway patrol units and general duties police conducted large-scale random breath test (RBT) and random drug test (RDT) sites.
Suburbs where enforcement sites were set up included Murarrie, Coopers Plains, Wacol, South Brisbane, Highgate Hill, Richlands, Darra, Woolloongabba, Fairfield, Morningside, Mount Gravatt East, Greenslopes, Sunnybank, Moorooka, Wakerley, Kangaroo Point, East Brisbane, Milton, Kedron, Spring Hill, Brisbane City, Everton Park, Bracken Ridge, New Farm, Ascot, Albion, Teneriffe, Mt Coot-tha and Bellbowrie.
6,731 RBTs and 454 RDTs were conducted, detecting 18 people driving under the influence of alcohol and 21 people driving under the influence of drugs.
This targeted enforcement activity was in addition to the daily proactive patrols conducted by Highway Patrol and General Duties police across the region.
On 27 June police stopped a 23-year-old Wynnum man for a random breath test at a Shafston Avenue traffic enforcement site in Kangaroo Point.
Police alleged the man returned a breath analysis reading of 0.152%.
The man was charged with one count of did drive under the influence and appeared before Brisbane Magistrate Court on 7 July.
He was fined $1000 and had his licence disqualified for six months.
Police charged a woman with drink driving following a single-vehicle traffic crash in Mount Ommaney.
On 11 June police were called after a Mazda crashed into a pole along Dandenong Road.
The female driver and sole occupant was transported to hospital as a precaution.
A blood analysis of the female driver returned an alcohol content of 0.141% which is almost three times the legal limit.
A 79-year-old woman from Corinda has since been charged with one count of drive motor vehicle whilst over the middle alcohol limit.
She is expected to appear before Brisbane Magistrates Court on 27 August.
A man was charged following a single vehicle traffic crash at Mount Coot-tha in the early hours of yesterday morning, 10 July.
Around 12.20am police were called to Scenic Drive following reports a ute had crossed onto the wrong side of the road and crashed.
Officers conducted a breath test back at a police station with the man returning a BAC reading of 0.156.
It will be alleged the vehicle was also unregistered.
A 25-year-old Kuraby man has been charged with one count each of did drive under the influence and vehicles used on the road must be registered.
He is expected to appear before Brisbane Magistrates Court on 5 August.
South Brisbane District Acting Inspector Stephen Gough says police are committed to continue conducting enforcement activities in a bid to decrease fatalities across the district.
"It is concerning that we continue to detect drivers operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol."
"We are calling on all drivers to take accountability for their actions and think twice before they get behind the wheel after drinking."
"A split-second decision can lead to tragic life-long consequences."
North Brisbane District Acting Inspector Stuart Kerr says the district wants to continue to see the decrease in local lives lost trend to continue.
"Last year we saw a devastating toll of lives lost on roads in Brisbane's north."
"The significant impact of every life lost is felt by that person's family, community and first responders who arrive on the scene."
"Police will continue to be in force conducting enforcement activities and doing everything we can to continue to save lives on our roads."
Brisbane Region large-scale RBT and RDT stats from 27 June:
- RBTs: 6,731
- DUI alcohol: 18
- RDTs: 454
- DUI drugs: 21
- Traffic Infringement Notices issued: 116
- Disqualified drivers: 2
- Unlicenced drivers: 6
- Unregistered/uninsured drivers: 6
- Notice to appear: 33
- Charges: 62
Lives lost stats as of 10 July:
- State-wide: 142 compared to 149 in 2024.
- Brisbane: 21 compared to 29 in 2024.
- Brisbane's north: 6 compared to 18 in 2024.
- Brisbane's south: 15 compared to 11 in 2024.
The Queensland Police Service is committed to reducing the number of lives lost on our roads.
Data shows that serious crashes can be significantly reduced when drivers recognise and avoid the 'Fatal Five' behaviours: speeding, drink and drug driving, not wearing seatbelts, fatigue and distraction.
Road safety is everyone's responsibility. Learn more about staying safe on Queensland roads: https://www.police.qld.gov.au/initiatives/fatal-five-staying-safe-roads
If you have information for police, contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form 24hrs per day at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting.
Report crime information anonymously via Crime Stoppers. Call 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestoppersqld.com.au.
