Easter blitz: Queensland Police to crack down on dangerous drivers over school holidays
- The Crisafulli Government has urged motorists to drive safely over the Easter break after a deadly start to the school holidays.
- 15 people have already died on Queensland roads since the start of the Easter school holidays.
- High visibility police operations targeting the Fatal Five to continue over the long weekend.
The Crisafulli Government has joined the Queensland Police Service to urge Queensland motorists to take greater care behind the wheel this Easter long weekend, following a deadly start to the school holidays.
Tragically, there has already been 15 lives lost on Queensland roads since the start of the school holidays on April 4, which is the same number of people killed the entire school holiday period last year.
The Crisafulli Government is restoring community safety across Queensland – after a decade of Labor inaction on crime – by delivering more front-line police to crack down on dangerous drivers and keep Queenslanders safe.
The Queensland Police Service is currently conducting Operation X-ray Easter to target the Fatal Five - speeding, drink driving, fatigue, seatbelts and distraction – with thousands already caught breaking the law.
Police have conducted 64,682 roadside breath tests and 3,815 roadside drug tests as at 8am on April 15.
Of those tested, 1,118 motorists were found to be over the legal alcohol limit and 432 drivers returned a positive result for drugs and had to undergo further testing.
Minister for Police and Emergency Services Dan Purdie warned drivers to expect a high visibility police presence to continue across Queensland over the long weekend.
"Police officers will be doing everything they can to stop the horror road toll from growing any higher over the long weekend," Minister Purdie said.
"Drivers should expect to see more RBTs and high visibility patrols targeting those unfit to be behind the wheel due to drugs and alcohol – with impaired driving one of the major causes of crashes in Queensland.
"Easter is a great time to be hitting the road to explore our great state, but please do your part to keep yourself, your passengers and other motorists safe."
Queensland Police Service Acting Commissioner, Shane Chelepy APM, said the Easter period is one of the busiest times on the Australian roads, and one of the highest-risk times for serious crashes.
"Police will continue to conduct increased high visibility operations, traffic enforcement activities and patrols throughout the state, including roadside breath testing and drug testing operations, as part of Operation X-ray Easter," Acting Commissioner Chelepy said.
"The results of the first 10 days of this operation illustrate the danger that people are putting themselves and the community in by driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs – and this is simply unacceptable."
Acting Chief Superintendent Garrath Channells from the QPS Road Policing and Regional Support Command said police were doing everything they can to influence drivers to make safe choices.
"We have had a devastating start to the school holiday period, with 15 people not returning home to their families," Acting Chief Superintendent Channells said.
"That's 15 families who are preparing and attending funerals instead of spending the long weekend with their families, and it's horrific.
"Last year, we had the highest number of lives lost on Queensland roads in 15 years.
"We are determined to reduce this figure, and the significant emotional toll it takes on families and friends every year – but that is a role that we share with the community.
"Easter is always an incredibly busy time of year and everyone who is planning to travel over this period should account for this by allowing extra time for travel and exercising patience on the roads.
"We will be highly visible on Queensland roads, targeting unsafe behaviour and we are pleading to motorists to obey the road rules and make safe choices on our roads.
"Motorists should expect to see us anytime, anywhere – we just want everyone to get home safely."
