Police have charged 47 people with 63 traffic offences following a six-day road safety blitz targeting the fatal five across the Southern Region.
Running between 25 to 30 May, Operation Auster involved Highway Patrol and General Duty police officers, with assistance from the Road Policing Taskforce, saturating highways and rural roads across Ipswich, Darling Downs and South West Districts with high visibility and covert proactive patrols in addition to static road safety enforcement sites conducting random breath testing (RBT's) and random drug testing (RDT's).
Police conducted 4286 RBT's and 174 RDT's and issued 461 traffic infringement notices (TIN's), including 181 speeding offences.
Eight alleged drink drivers and 38 alleged drug drivers were detected during the same period.
On 25 May, police intercepted a 2015 Holden Commodore allegedly travelling at 139km/h in a 100km/h zone along the Barwon Highway at Callandoon.
The driver, a 55-year-old Angledoon man was fined $1251 and loss of six demerit points.
The driver is also alleged to have returned a positive roadside drug test for methylamphetamine, which resulted in a Notice To Appear in the Goondiwindi Magistrates Court on 22 July.
On 26 May, police were conducting a static RBT site along the Warrego Highway at Roma when they observed a 2005 Nissan Patrol approach the site before making a U-turn and leaving the scene.
Officers intercepted the vehicle on Tiffin Street a short time later where it is alleged the driver returned a positive roadside drug test for methylamphetamine.
It will be further alleged when officers searched the man's vehicle, they located 25 grams of methylamphetamine and drug utensils.
The driver, a 28-year-old Roma man, was charged with one count each of possessing dangerous drugs and possess property suspected of having been used in connection with the commission of a drug offence.
He has been issued a Notice To Appear in the Roma Magistrates Court on 6 August.
On 27 May, police intercepted a 2022 Isuzu D-Max allegedly travelling at 86km/h in a 40km/h school zone on Bell Street in Kumbia.
The driver, a 41-year-old Kingaroy man was issued with a TIN resulting in a $1919 fine and loss of eight demerit points and loss of licence for six months.
On 28 May, police intercepted a 2016 Mercedes Benz Vito allegedly travelling at 124km/h in a 100km/h zone along the Brisbane Valley Highway at Coominya.
The driver an 86-year-old Redbank Plains man was issued with a TIN resulting in a $751 fine and loss of four demerit points
He was also issued a $166 fine for driving without a valid medical certificate.
Southern Region Assistant Commissioner Matthew Vanderbyl said he was disappointed by the number of motorists detected during the operation committing serious traffic offences, despite repeated warnings about the importance of road safety.
"The volume of offences detected during this operation shows there are still too many drivers prepared to ignore the law and gamble with the safety of everyone on the road," said Assistant Commissioner Vanderbyl.
"Road safety is a shared responsibility, and everyone using our roads has a role to play in preventing crashes and keeping our community safe.
"Operations such as Auster are about more than issuing fines – they are designed to detect and deter dangerous behaviour and encourage safer driving habits to reduce road trauma.
"Our message is clear - if you choose to ignore the road rules and endanger others expect to be detected and held accountable."
As of May 31, 137 lives have been lost on Queensland roads including 15 in Darling Downs District, 12 in Ipswich District and four in South West District.
The operation forms part of the Queensland Police Service's statewide road safety initiative, Operation Yankee Interpose.
Vision Time Stamps:
0.00 -00.53: A 55-year-old Algledoon man has been issued a Notice To Appear in the Goondiwindi Magistrates Court after allegedly travelling at 139km/h in a 100km/h zone along the Barwon Highway at Callandoon and returning a positive roadside random drug test on 25 May
0.53 - 2.02: A 28-year-old Roma man has been issued a Notice To Appear in the Roma Magistrates Court after officers allegedly found methylamphetamine in his vehicle during an intercept on the Warrego Highway on 26 May.
2.02 - 3.12: A 41-year-old Kingaroy man has been issued a Traffic Infringement Notice after allegedly being caught travelling 86km/h in a 40km/h school zone on in Kumbia on 27 May.
3.12 - END An 86-year-old Redbank Plains man has been issued a Traffic Infringement Notice after allegedly being caught travelling 124km/h in a 100km/h without a valid medical certificate at Coominya on 28 May.
The Queensland Police Service is committed to reducing the number of lives lost on our roads.
As part of Operation Interpose, police are bolstering high-visibility patrols right across the state, engaging with road users and enforcing the laws to deter dangerous driving behaviours.
Queenslanders can expect police – anywhere, anytime. However, enforcement alone cannot stop all dangerous driving behaviours.
Driving under the influence, speeding, driving distracted or while fatigued, or not wearing a seatbelt puts your life – and the lives of others – at serious risk. These dangerous behaviours will not be tolerated.
Road safety starts with you.
