POLICE are cracking down on unsafe driving after six road crash fatalities in the Jimboomba policing district this year.
By November 12, 18 people had died in crashes in the south-east region – the same as the total for 2016 – leading authorities to fear there will be an increase in this year’s toll.
Of the six fatalities in the Jimboomba area, three occurred on the Mount Lindesay Highway and two on Waterford Tamborine Road. Two people who died were riding motorcycles.
As police launched the crackdown last week four people were charged with drink-driving and two for high-speed driving.
Jimboomba police station officer-in-charge Senior Sergeant Peter Waugh said police will allege a 26-year-old Jimboomba man provided a reading of 0.114 when given a breathalyser test, a 46-year-old Cedar Grove woman 0.165, a 59-year-old Greenbank woman 0.115 and a 36-year-old Redland Bay woman 0.107.
Two people were fined $1177 for speeding in 60km/h zones. A 34-year-old Buccan man was caught travelling at 108km/h on Buccan Road, Buccan, while a 25-year-old Forestdale man was driving at 110km/h on Tamborine Street, Jimboomba.
Senior Sergeant Waugh said police were working with Transport and Main Roads to identify and target danger areas.
“We are looking at improving enforcement techniques and high visibility initiatives,” he said. “Coming into the holidays and the festive season, we will be targeting known causes of crashes.
“We are putting considerable resources into this.”
He said research had found about 40 per cent of fatalities were people termed vulnerable road users. “These include the aged, motorcycle riders and cyclists.”
Police were using an unmarked motorcycle to patrol roads riders were known to frequent and where road rules were often ignored.
Jimboomba police also have been awarded a Community Road Safety Grant for a project to educate and re-educate older motorbike riders.
“We hope that will have a major impact on motorcycle safety,” Senior Sergeant Waugh said.
The targeted operations are not just in the Jimboomba area. Police state-wide launched Operation Safe Speed last week to target speeding and other road rule breaches. During the 24-hour operation police used mobile speed cameras, roadside drug testing units and increased patrols.
Assistant Commissioner Mike Keating said speeding was one contributing factor to fatal and serious crashes.
“Exceeding the speed limit comes with a cost, be it a fine or, more importantly, the human cost in the risk of death or serious injury to yourself, your loved ones, or other road users,” he said.
