Operation Auster Nets 51 Offenders

A comprehensive six-day road safety operation named “Operation Auster” concluded recently in Queensland’s Southern Region, resulting in 51 individuals being charged with a total of 63 offences. The operation, which stretched from October 19 to October 24, was spearheaded by both Highway Patrol and General Duty officers, focusing on high visibility and covert patrols along with static road safety enforcement sites.

The operation targeted the “fatal five” risky behaviors, which include speeding, drink and drug driving, not wearing seatbelts, fatigue, and distraction. During this period, police conducted 4,508 random breath tests (RBTs) and issued 337 traffic infringement notices (TINs), with 212 of these for speeding violations. Notably, police apprehended eight alleged drink drivers and 26 alleged drug drivers.

Significant incidents during the operation included the interception of a driver going 163 km/h in a 100 km/h zone on the Warrego Highway at Dalby, and another driver clocked at 171 km/h on the Leichhardt Highway at Miles. Both drivers faced hefty fines and demerit points, along with a six-month license suspension. Another notable case involved a driver caught allegedly watching a video on a mobile device while speeding through a school zone.

Inspector David Campbell of the Southern Region expressed disappointment at the continued reckless behavior of many drivers, emphasizing the importance of road rules designed to save lives. The operation underscores the Queensland Police Service’s ongoing commitment to reducing road fatalities, which have already claimed 250 lives this year in the state, including 39 in targeted districts of Operation Auster.

The Queensland Police continue to urge the public to adhere to road safety regulations and remain vigilant against the fatal five behaviors, reminding everyone that road safety is a shared responsibility.