Police Urge Caution as School Zones Return in Queensland

Queensland Police Service (QPS) is urging drivers to slow down and stay alert for vulnerable road users, as the Easter school holidays come to an end and children across Queensland return to school.

The return to school coincides with the final week of Operation Yankee Easter Break, with police continuing high visibility patrols during this high traffic period, to ensure everyone makes it safely to their destination.

Commencing on Friday 3 April, the operation has seen police conducting high-visibility patrols and enforcement actions across the state, with a focus on deterring unsafe behaviours such as speeding, fatigued, distracted and impaired driving.

During the school holidays, officers issued more than 10,600 traffic infringement notices to drivers displaying unsafe behaviours, with 4,000 issued in relation to speeding^*.

Officers also report conducting more than 75,500 roadside breath tests and 1,800 roadside drug tests, detecting more than 1,200 impaired drivers^*.

Among the drivers detected was a 56-year-old Victorian man, who was intercepted by Road Policing Task Force officers after they allegedly observed him travelling over the permitted speed limit for a combination heavy vehicle on the Gateway Motorway near Stretton.

Roadside saliva testing confirmed the presence of a relevant drug in the man's, confirmed by a secondary saliva test.

The was charged with drug driving and issued with a notice to appear before Richlands Magistrates Court on 24 June.

Emergency Response and Coordination Command Assistance Commissioner Rhys Wildman said consistent, high visibility operations during high-traffic periods like school holidays are crucial to deterring dangerous behaviours.

"School holidays are a great time to take a well-deserved break to visit family, explore our beautiful state or even just take the kids out and about your city," Assistant Commissioner Wildman said.

"However, these periods of high-volume traffic on our roads can lead to an increase in dangerous behaviours like speeding, impaired driving, or fatigued driving - actions that can have devastating, lifelong consequences.

"Every life lost on Queensland roads is one too many, and ensuring our officers are visibly patrolling our roads and enforcing our road rules deters dangerous behaviours by reminding the community they can expect police - anywhere, anytime," Assistant Commissioner Wildman said.

"We are reminding Queenslanders that operational activities will continue this week, with police also patrolling school zones and enforcing speed limits.

Assistant Commissioner Wildman also reminded road users that, as the new school term commences, Queenslanders have a role to play in making roads safer for children.

"Every decision made behind the wheel matters, and we cannot stop every poor choice before it is made," Assistant Commissioner Wildman said.

"Behaviours like speeding or impaired driving are decisions drivers make that have a direct consequence not just on their safety - but the safety of others too.

"Road safety is everybody's responsibility, but with more traffic, bike riders and pedestrians, in particular young children, on our roads this week, we need people to take this responsibility seriously.

"Slow down, stay focused, stay alert, and drive to the conditions - because road safety starts with you."