Queensland Police Launch Road Safety Blitz

The Queensland Police Service (QPS) is initiating a state-wide road safety campaign, Operation X-Ray Cold Snap, to enhance the safety of vulnerable road users during the busy winter school holiday period. Running until July 13, the operation aims to curb road trauma by targeting dangerous driving behaviors and emphasizing the Fatal Five safety message.

Acting Chief Superintendent Garrath Channells of the QPS Road Policing and Regional Support Command highlighted the operation’s zero-tolerance approach to risky driving habits, which have already claimed 136 lives on Queensland roads this year. The campaign focuses on protecting vulnerable road users such as motorcyclists, cyclists, e-scooter users, and pedestrians, including children and parents with prams.

The operation will involve high-visibility patrols, enforcement responses, and static roadside testing across highways, regional towns, tourist areas, and back roads. Police will reinforce the importance of adhering to safety measures, including speed limits, avoiding distractions, and wearing seatbelts correctly.

Patricia Brennan, Acting Senior Sergeant of the Forensic Crash Unit, stressed the devastating impact of poor road decisions, particularly involving vulnerable users. She urged all drivers to plan their journeys, emphasizing the dangers of fatigue and the responsibility of all road users to make safe choices.

QPS is committed to reducing fatalities by targeting the Fatal Five behaviors: speeding, drink and drug driving, not wearing seatbelts, fatigue, and distraction. The campaign serves as a reminder that road safety is a shared responsibility, crucial for ensuring that everyone reaches their destination safely during the holiday season.