QPS Southern Region is set to launch a road safety operation across three districts this week, aimed at reducing road trauma ahead of November, which saw the most fatalities in the month last year on the region’s roads.
More than 30 officers, including those from Warwick, Stanthorpe, Goondiwindi, Toowoomba, Kingaroy, Dalby, Roma, and Ipswich Highway Patrol units, will take part in Operation Auster, running from 19 to 24 October across the Ipswich, Darling Downs and South West Districts.
In November 2024, 11 lives were lost in the Southern Region, making it the highest month for fatal road crashes since July 2018.
Southern Region Assistant Commissioner Matthew Vanderbyl said the operation will take a targeted and tactical approach to help prevent future road tragedies.
“Having a dedicated cohort of officers from across all three districts travelling and working together over the six-day period means we can cover more ground and have more resources on hand to conduct covert and overt road safety activities, including at major interception sites,” said A/C Vanderbyl.
“In addition, we now have a new, very detailed intelligence dashboard, updated twice daily, which can direct our people to the very areas where we know enforcement and driver awareness and education are best needed, and we will be using this in this operation to ensure we get the best road policing and safety outcomes for everyone.
“By focusing our efforts now, our intention is to address and modify poor driver behaviour prior to the start of November, which has become notorious here in this region for road fatalities,” said A/C Vanderbyl.
Coinciding with Motorcycle Awareness Month, A/C Vanderbyl said there will also be a major focus on riders as part of the operation due to their over-representation in road crashes in the Southern Region.
“Motorcycles currently account for 4 per cent of registered vehicles on Queensland roads, but as of 8 October this year, they have accounted for 24 per cent of road fatalities in this region,” said A/C Vanderbyl.
“Those are sobering figures, and that is why it is imperative we have face-to-face enforcement to help drive home the message that road safety is everyone’s responsibility.”
As part of the road safety blitz, drivers can expect to see an increased number of police on roads across all three districts, stopping vehicles, talking with drivers and taking action, when needed, to strengthen the safety of road users.
The operation will focus on life-endangering offences like speed, impaired driving, fatigue, mobile phone use, not wearing seatbelts, vehicle compliance and roadworthiness, and heavy vehicle offences.
To learn more about road safety and QPS’ initiatives to help make Queensland’s roads safer, visit: police.qld.gov.au/initiatives/road-safety
The Queensland Police Service is committed to reducing the number of lives lost on our roads.
Data shows that serious crashes can be significantly reduced when drivers recognise and avoid the ‘Fatal Five’ behaviours: speeding, drink and drug driving, not wearing seatbelts, fatigue and distraction.
Road safety is everyone’s responsibility. Learn more about staying safe on Queensland roads: police.qld.gov.au/initiatives/fatal-five-staying-safe-roads
