Police have charged 37 people with 55 traffic offences following a series of road safety operations across the Darling Downs District over the past month.
Between the 12 to 18 May, 13 June and 17 June, Operation Nitrox saw officers from Highway Patrol units and General Duty officers, with assistance from the Road Policing Taskforce, undertake high visibility proactive patrols in addition to static road safety enforcement sites conducting random breath testing (RBT's) and random drug testing (RDT's).
Police conducted 2830 RBT's and 105 RDT's and issued 239 traffic infringement notices (TIN's), including 127 for speeding offences.
Seven alleged drink drivers and 34 alleged drug drivers were also detected during the same period.
On 12 May, police intercepted a 2024 Volkswagen Golf allegedly travelling at 152km/h in a 100km/h zone along the New England Highway at Upper Yarraman.
The driver, a 32-year-old Morayfield woman has been issued with a TIN resulting in a $1919 fine, loss of eight demerit points and loss of licence for six months.
On 13 June, police were conducting a static RBT site along the Cunningham Highway at Gladfield when they intercepted a 2010 Great Wall utility.
The driver, a 56-year-old Killarney man, allegedly returned a positive roadside drug test for methylamphetamine.
He has been charged with drug driving and had his licence suspended and has been issued with a Notice to Appear (NTA) in Warwick Magistrates Court on 27 July.
On 17 June, officers intercepted a 2014 Nissan Navara on McGregor Street in Wilsonton.
The male driver underwent a roadside breath test, which police will allege produced an initial positive reading. Upon completing a secondary breath analysis back at the station, it will be further alleged the man produced a breath analysis sample of 0.081%, placing him over the legal alcohol limit.
A 65-year-old Wilsonton man was charged with drink driving and has been issued with a NTA in Toowoomba Magistrates Court on 21 July.
Darling Downs District Officer Acting Superintendent Kelly Hanlen said the operation was not about issuing fines but was aimed at preventing trauma.
"Dangerous driving behaviour has a ripple effect across the entire community. It places pressure on emergency services, impacts families and can leave lasting physical and emotional scars on those involved," Acting Superintendent Hanlen said.
"No matter how experienced a driver may be, the laws apply to everyone. A moment of impatience or distraction can have devastating consequences and that is why police will continue to take a zero-tolerance approach to dangerous driving."
As of June 23, 146 lives have been lost on Queensland roads including 14 in Darling Downs District.
The operation forms part of the Queensland Police Service's statewide road safety initiative, Operation Yankee Interpose.
Vision Time Stamps:
0.00 – 0.35: A 32-year-old Morayfield woman has been issued a Traffic Infringement Notice after allegedly travelling at 152km/h in a 100km/h zone along the New England Highway at Upper Yarraman on 12 May.
0.35 – 1.33: A 56-year-old Killarney man has been issued a Notice to Appear in Warwick Magistrates Court after returning a positive roadside drug test during an intercept on the Cunningham Highway at Gladfield on 13 June.
1.33 – END: A 65-year-old Wilsonton man has been charged with drink driving after allegedly returning a positive breath analysis sample of 0.081%, during an intercept on McGregor Street in Wilsonton on 17 June.
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.
