Operation Auster Targets Road Safety

In a proactive move to curtail road fatalities, the Queensland Police Service (QPS) Southern Region is set to launch Operation Auster, a comprehensive road safety blitz spanning three districts starting this Sunday. The operation, scheduled from October 19 to 24, aims to address the spike in road tragedies, particularly ahead of November—a month historically marked by high fatality rates.

This initiative will see over 30 officers from units across Ipswich, Warwick, Stanthorpe, Goondiwindi, Toowoomba, Kingaroy, Dalby, and Roma actively patrolling in an effort to reduce road trauma. The surge in road policing will cover the Ipswich, Darling Downs, and South West Districts, focusing on critical life-threatening offenses such as speeding, impaired driving, and mobile phone use while driving.

Assistant Commissioner Matthew Vanderbyl emphasized the strategic nature of the operation, highlighting the use of a new intelligence dashboard that provides real-time data to optimize police deployment to high-risk areas. “This targeted and tactical approach is about more than enforcement—it’s about fundamentally changing driver behavior to save lives,” Vanderbyl stated.

In alignment with Motorcycle Awareness Month, a particular emphasis will be placed on motorcycle riders, who are disproportionately represented in road mishaps within the region. As of early October, motorcycles, which constitute only 4% of registered vehicles, accounted for 24% of this year’s road fatalities in Southern Queensland.

The QPS is leveraging this operation to remind the public about the ‘Fatal Five’ dangerous driving behaviors—speeding, drink and drug driving, not wearing seatbelts, driving while fatigued, and driving distracted. Through high visibility and direct engagement, the police hope to reinforce the message that road safety is a shared responsibility.

For further details on road safety initiatives and tips on safe driving practices, residents are encouraged to visit the official QPS road safety website.