Motorists urged to slow down

Police have urged motorists to drive more carefully, with heavy rain predicted as holiday makers begin to return from their Easter break on Sunday.

Six people have lost their lives on the roads in the Moreton Bay Region so far this year, compared with three at the same time last year, two in 2019 and one in 2018.

The number of people who have died on our roads across the state stands at 74, compared with 49 at the same time in 2020, 48 in 2019 and 65 in 2018.

Chief Superintendent of Road Policing Command Ray Rohweder says police issued motorists with 524 fines for speeding for the 24 hours to midnight on Thursday.

Eight demerit points

They included two men in Rockhampton who were fined $1245 and given eight demerit points and a six-month licence suspension after being caught driving more than 60kmh over the speed limit.

Officer in Charge of the Deception Bay Road Policing Unit Senior Sergeant Garth Peake says the number of traffic accidents resulting in people being taken to hospital in the region is greater than at the same time last year.

“The difference between being taken to hospital and a fatality is insignificant,” Sen-Sgt Peake says.

Don’t drink and drive

Drink-driving is an issue across the district, he says, citing a motorist detected over the limit at 11am on Morayfield Rd recently.

His message to those imbibing is simple: “Just don’t drive”.

Redcliffe Police Station officer-in-charge Sen-Sgt Richard Downie says it is important for motorists to drive to the conditions, and a blitz on school zones had found speeding was common during 40kmh periods.

“We’re detecting up to a dozen offences in school zones daily,” he says.

Sen-Sgt Peake says the “fatal five” – speeding, seat belts, drink/drug driving, fatigue and distraction – were behind most of the region’s crashes.

“You need to drive for the other driver.

“The responsibility for road safety rests with each person,” Sen-Sgt Peake says.

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