Sunshine Coast police have issued more than 280 traffic infringement notices as part of Operation Cold Snap, focusing on road safety over the winter school holidays.
From June 22 to July 8, police in the Sunshine Coast district saturated local roadways to enforce and encourage safe driving.
They conducted more than 1300 breath tests and found 12 drug-drivers and 23 drink-drivers.
They also issued more than 280 traffic infringement notices (TINs), including 10 for mobile phone use, one for not wearing a seatbelt and more than 85 for speeding.
An example of this occurred on June 26, during patrols of the Old Bruce Highway southbound at Tuchekoi, when a highway patrol officer from the Wide Bay Burnett district recorded a vehicle driving at 142km/h in a 100km/h zone.
After pulling the driver over, police saw the man’s driver’s licence was suspended, his car had bald tyres and he blew 0.070 blood alcohol content in a roadside breath test.
The 18-year-old Southside man was issued with a TIN for drive defective vehicle (vehicle or component is unsafe) worth $309 and a TIN for exceed speed limit in speed zone by more than 40km/h, worth $1780.
The man was also issued with a notice to appear for driving a motor vehicle without a driver’s licence. He is due to appear in the Gympie Magistrates Court on July 18.
One road fatality was recorded on the Sunshine Coast during Operation Cold Snap.
Sunshine Coast Highway Patrol officer in charge Senior Sergeant Shane Panoho said police were keen to push the road safety message.
“Our goal is always zero lives lost so each one is saddening but pushes us to strengthen road safety in our community,” he said.
“As expected, we saw a significant increase in traffic volumes across our roads over the school holidays, and through Operation Cold Snap police were able to educate and enforce road safety.
“Police took opportunities to have conversations with drivers to further educate about the proven causes of traffic crashes including speed, impaired driving, fatigue, seat belt use, driver distraction and vehicle safety standards.
“Though school is back, patrols don’t stop here.
“Sunshine Coast Highway Patrol is committed to keeping Sunshine Coast roads safe for all road users and will continue to do so each and every day.”
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