Call for Easter Slow Down

Media Release

Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services

The Honourable Neil Roberts

02/04/2010

SLOW DOWN THIS EASTER

Police are appealing for motorists to slow down after the first day of covert speed camera deployments in Queensland delivered concerning results.

"Yesterday the three covert speed camera vehicles operated in Yeppoon, North Rockhampton, Hemmant, Tingalpa, Murarrie, Upper Mount Gravatt and Macgregor," Police Minister Neil Roberts said.

"This resulted in 720 detections for speeding, a significantly higher rate of detection than police would normally see with marked speed cameras.

"It's concerning to see such a high number of motorists are risking their lives and the lives of others."

Covert motorcycles also operated for the first time in Queensland yesterday.

The unmarked motorcycles patrolled the M1 and Gateway Motorway resulting in eight infringements being issued for using a mobile phone while driving, four speeding infringements and one infringement each for an unregistered vehicle and obscured number plate.

Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson said Police wanted to see the number of speeders detected by both covert and unmarked speed cameras reduce over the Easter weekend to prevent tragedy on our roads.

"While there were no fatalities in the first 24 hours of the Easter road safety campaign, 34 people were injured in 28 crashes," Commissioner Atkinson said.

"Motorists should slow down, obey the road rules and drive to the conditions to make our roads safer."

The highest speeds detected statewide yesterday were 146kmh in a 100kmh zone at Beaudesert and 116kmh in a 60kmh zone on the Sunshine Coast.

The highest detections by the covert speed cameras were 98kmh in a 60kmh zone at Wynnum and 97kmh in a 60kmh zone at Upper Mount Gravatt.

The highest blood alcohol reading in Queensland yesterday was allegedly 0.368% by a Whitsunday man in Central Region. He will appear in Proserpine Magistrates Court on April 12