Queensland roads fill up quickly during the festive season as everyone hits the highway for holidays, family catch-ups and end-of-year events.
Police will be out on Queensland’s roads day and night over the festive season. Random breath and drug tests can happen anywhere and at any time, from the highway to your street corner, to keep people safe and stop dangerous behaviour before it causes harm.
The Fatal Five
Most serious crashes in Queensland involve at least one of the behaviours known as the Fatal Five which remain the leading contributors to lives lost and life-changing injuries on the road each year:
- Drink and drug driving
- Speeding
- Not wearing a seatbelt
- Distraction including the use of mobile phones
- Fatigue
Drink and drug driving: the risk you cannot see
More than 1 in 5 fatal crashes involves drink or drug driving – and many impaired drivers believed they felt fine at the time.
Queensland laws apply when:
- BAC is above 0.00 for learners and provisional drivers
- BAC is above 0.00 for certain heavy or commercial vehicle drivers
- BAC is 0.05 or above for open licence drivers
- any trace of illegal drugs.
Alcohol and drugs can slow reaction time, reduce coordination, impair judgement and distort speed and distance perception.
Major penalties include fines up to $4,673 for a first high-range offence and $9,288 for repeat high-range offences. Drug driving can attract fines up to $6,192.
Speeding: every kilometre counts
Speeding is a major contributor to serious crashes. Obeying the relevant speed limit and slowing down and driving to the conditions increases the chance of avoiding or surviving an impact.
Penalties in Queensland can include:
- fines up to $1919
- up to 8 demerit points
- double demerit points for repeat offences
- licence suspension for serious or repeated speeding.
Seatbelts and child restraints: protection that saves lives
Seatbelts prevent serious injury by keeping occupants secure and reducing the force of impact. Children must be placed in restraints suited to their age and size.
Penalties include:
- fines up to $1251
- 3 demerit points per unrestrained occupant
- double demerit points for repeat offences
- additional fines for each unrestrained passenger.
Max’s story: a family saved by the smallest decision
Queenslander and QPS officer Max Gardener was driving home with his young children during the Christmas period when a sudden loss of control sent his vehicle off the road. Max suffered serious injuries requiring surgery and months of rehabilitation, yet his children walked away without harm because they were secured in the correct child restraints. In his story, Max shares his relief of knowing the right seats protected his kids and how quickly a routine trip can become life changing.
Driving distracted: eyes off the road, seconds from impact
Distraction comes from mobile phones, navigation systems, eating, adjusting controls or interacting with passengers. Even brief lapses increase crash risk.
Penalties for diving distracted in Queensland can include:
- for careless driving / driving without due care and attention fines up to $6,667
- 3 demerit points
- prosecution if distraction leads to serious risk or harm
Fatigue: when tired eyes become dangerous roads
Fatigue reduces alertness and reaction time and is common during long trips, late nights and end-of-year travel. It can be as dangerous as driving while impaired. Taking regular breaks, sharing driving duties and avoiding long trips late in the day helps prevent fatigue.
Personal mobility devices: same roads, same risks
Road rules apply to e-bikes and personal mobility devices (e-scooters). Police will enforce impairment, speed, helmet and unsafe riding offences. Even low alcohol levels affect balance and coordination, and crashes involving these devices are increasing.
Working together for safer roads
The Motor Accident Insurance Commission (MAIC) is the regulator of the Queensland Compulsory Third Party insurance scheme. MAIC works closely with the Queensland Police Service, Department of Transport and Main Roads and Queensland universities to deliver research, education and practical initiatives that reduce road trauma.
This important partnership supports priorities including:
- road safety research technology trials that reduce crash risk
- learner driver mentor programs and
- evidence based initiatives improving safety for all road users.
Learn more about MAIC’s work to make Queensland roads safer.
