The Department of Transport and Main Roads has revealed the Queensland Road Safety Strategy 2022-31, which includes raising some fines.
Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Mark Bailey said the 10-year Strategy was aimed at reducing the number of lives lost on the roads.
“We’ve had a tragic start to the year, with 81 lives lost on Queensland roads already,” Mr Bailey said.
The Minister said the Strategy revealed actions to crack down on driver behaviour.
“The Strategy’s Action Plan delivers new penalties for speeding, running a red light and seatbelt offences, starting on 1 July,” he said.
“Running a red light will now set you back more than $550 and drivers will continue to receive three demerit points for this offence.”
Mr Bailey said penalties for seatbelt offences would also rise to more than $1,000, as well as increasing the demerit point penalty from three to four.
“We’ve been educating drivers on the importance of seatbelts for 50 years, but somehow the message didn’t get through to everyone, so it’s time to get tough,” he said.
“The message is simple: If you don’t want one of these fines, do the right thing on our roads.”
Mr Bailey said every cent collected from the fines would be re-invested into road safety.
“This year alone, we have over $1.7 billion invested in road-safety initiatives to prioritise road-safety upgrades, improve driver education, make school zones safer and develop policies to reduce road crashes and trauma,” he said.
The Department’s 20-page Strategy and 11-page Action Plan can be downloaded at this PS News link.
