Most Logan motorists can pride themselves for not breaking the law as often as motorists do in Brisbane and on the Gold Coast.
From November the 1st last year until the 28th of February this year 253 motorists were fined for using a mobile phone while driving, 24 for not wearing a seatbelt and five passengers were also fined for not wearing a seatbelt.
By comparison 23,663 Brisbane motorists were fined for the same offences and fines were also issued to 17,128 Gold Coast motorists over the same time period.
In the first four months of new high tech cameras going live Queenslanders have clocked up almost 50,000 mobile phone and seatbelt offences.
Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey says the numbers are shocking, and show too many Queenslanders are doing the wrong thing on our roads.
“From 1 November 2021 to 28 February 2022, a whopping 47,668 infringements were issued for camera detected mobile phone and seatbelt offences.”
“Incredibly, this included 33,805 infringements issued for illegal mobile phone use while driving.”
“We know using your phone while driving is the equivalent of driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.07 – 0.10, so this is like having 33,805 drunk drivers on our roads.”
“Even more shockingly there were 13,875 seatbelt offences.”
“To think seatbelts have been mandatory for 50 years, and almost 14,000 people have been caught doing the wrong thing in just 4 months is outrageous.”
Mr Bailey says for the first time, the data has been broken down into different regions.
“Brisbane drivers were sent 23,663 infringements, the most of anywhere in the state.”
“This was followed by the Gold Coast with 17,128 offences recorded.”
“In regional Queensland, drivers in Cairns were the worst offenders with 2,177 picked up doing the wrong thing.”
“For anyone complaining about the fines, my message is simple, if you don’t want a fine, do the right thing.”
“I make no apologies for this crackdown on mobile phone use and not wearing a seatbelt.”
“We know driver distraction is a factor in around 30 deaths on Queensland roads each year, and not wearing a seatbelt is a factor in more than 40 fatalities per year.”
“If we can stamp out these offences, we will go a long way towards making Queensland roads safer, and reducing the number of lives lost on our roads.”
As a result, from July 1 there’ll be bigger fines If you get caught speeding, driving without a seatbelt or running a red light in Queensland
The penalty for front-seat occupants caught not belting up has also been doubled.
Instead of a $413 fine and three demerit points, offenders will be fined $1078 and four demerit points.
That essentially aligns it with the $1033 penalty for using a mobile phone while driving in Queensland.
You’ll still get three demerit points for running a red, but the fine has been increased from $413 to $575.
The Government is also increasing penalties for speeding.
There’ll be a $287 fine for exceeding the speed limit by between 1-10 kilometres an hour, though it’ll still be a single demerit point. It’s currently $183 and the bracket is up to 12 kilometres an hour.
