MOBILE speed cameras and RBT vans will be out in force over the school holidays as police vow to crack down on the fatal five during a nearly three-week long road safety campaign.
From midnight tonight until Friday, July 17, police will be increasing their presence on the roads as part of operation cold snap to catch out motorists for things like speeding and drink driving.
During the same period last year, about 28,000 people were caught over the limit, almost 19,000 were found drink or drug driving and about 1000 people were booked for not wearing a seat-belt or using their mobile phone.
- Also read: Crash report provides warning for Scenic Rim, Logan and Redlands drivers
- Also read: Police reintroduce random speed cameras to catch lead foot motorists during COVID-19 pandemic
- Also read: Video: Logan, Scenic Rim and Redlands police resume static road-side breath testing in wake of coronavirus restrictions
Assistant Commissioner Ben Marcus said 14 lives were lost on Queensland roads during the same school holiday break in 2019.
"What we are asking everybody to do is to recognise that over the next two weeks we're expecting large numbers of the Queensland population to go on driving holidays," he said.
"Every year we urge people to understand that these are not accidents when cars collide, they are crashes.
"They are predictable, they are preventable and it is possible to stop traffic crashes from occurring."
Commissioner Katarina Carroll said motorists could expect an increase in roadside alcohol and drug tests.
"Can I please ask that when you travel throughout the school holidays, that you adhere to the road rules," she said.
"There will be many Queenslanders expecting to holiday and in fact we are expecting the roads to be incredibly busy over the next two weeks.
"There will be deterrents and there will be a high presence of police on those roads."
A total of 91 lives were lost on Queensland roads in the first five months of 2020, up from 84 at the same time last year.
Commissioner Carroll said police had seen people travelling at incredibly high speeds during the coronavirus lockdown period despite a downturn in traffic.
She said speed cameras would be placed where police expected to see an increase in road users.
"Despite the lockdown situation, we have seen too many lives lost on our roads compared to this time last year and a noticeable increase in high speed offences," Comissioner Carroll said.
"We ask all road users to drive or ride to the conditions and always consider the consequences of their choices."
