Sunshine Coast and Wide Bay Police are urging drivers to slow down and stay alert for vulnerable road users, as the Easter school holidays come to an end and children across the region return to school.
The return to school coincides with the final week of Operation Yankee Easter Break, with police conducting high-visibility patrols and enforcement actions across the state to deter unsafe behaviours such as speeding, fatigue, distraction and impaired driving.
As part of that operation, more than 8000 random breath tests (RBTs) were conducted on the Sunshine Coast and 128 roadside drug tests to 16 April, detecting 45 drink drivers and 34 drug drivers.
533 traffic infringement notices (TINs) were issued, including 197 for speeding and 16 seatbelt offences.
In that same time period, more than 7800 RBTs were conducted across the Wide Bay and 163 roadside drug tests, with 36 drink drivers and 42 drug drivers detected.
A total of 435 TINs were issued and 1020 speed camera offences were detected, including one driver travelling 205km/h in a 110 zone on the Bruce Highway at the Gympie bypass.
Gympie and Sunshine Coast Highway Patrols also conducted Operation Sandstorm alongside Operation Easter Break, targeting dangerous behaviour at Noosa North Shore, Teewah Beach and Double Island Point over the Easter long weekend. Further patrols are planned for the Labour Day long weekend.
As students return to the classroom, police will be focused on school zones while continuing high visibility enforcement activities on the wider road network.
Drivers need to ensure they’re abiding by the 40km/hour school zone limits, which are back in effect from today.
With more cars, pedestrians and bike riders, particularly young children, around schools, motorists need to take extra care.
