Police across Ipswich, Darling Downs and the South West have come together to launch Operation Auster, a regional road safety campaign aiming to reduce road trauma and save lives.
From May 28 to June 2, officers from each district’s Highway Patrol and Crime Prevention units will conduct targeted and highly visibility patrols and community engagement on highways and roads.
Targeting vulnerable road users like caravans, camper trailers and motorbike riders, the operation hopes to increase education surrounding travelling safely on rural roads.
Acting Inspector Craig Berry said tourists often head inland during winter, travelling on unfamiliar roads, with this operation aiming to encourage all road users to be accountable for their driving behaviour and be familiar with the impact of Fatal Five – drink and drug driving, distraction, speeding, fatigue and seatbelts.
“Across the Southern Region last year, 59 people lost their lives on our roads. The most lives lost on our region’s roads since 2013,” Acting Inspector Berry said.
“We know that 38 percent of those incidents were drink or drug driving related. That means the driver has chosen to get behind the wheel while adversely affected and this has resulted in someone losing their life,”
“Each person killed is more than just a number, 59 families and their loved ones will be impacted forever,”
“This operation is one piece of the puzzle, but we need motorists to work with us, to ensure everyone on our roads gets home safely,” Acting Inspector Berry said.
Focusing on the 19 highways and motorways across the Southern Region, police from Highway Patrol Units will be bolstered by other units in each district to enhance capability during the operation.
Each day over the operation, officers will conduct community engagement sessions in different locations across the region, including specialised education in safe motorcycle riding, caravanning and safely traversing rural roads.
“Our message to all motorists over the coming weeks, and every day on our roads, is – expect to see police anywhere, anytime,” Acting Inspector Berry said.
If you have information for police, contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form 24hrs per day at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting.
Report crime information anonymously via Crime Stoppers. Call 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestoppersqld.com.au.
