Redbank Plains learner driver fined $6,077 over unrestrained teens

A 22-year-old learner driver has been fined a total of $6,077 and incurred 25 demerit points after police allegedly found four unrestrained teenagers travelling in her vehicle at Redbank Plains.

About 10.30pm on 14 October, police saw a teenage girl, who was not restrained, waving a flag from a Hyundai iLoad on Redbank Plains Road. Officers stopped the vehicle and spoke with the driver, and then found another three 14-year-old teenagers travelling unrestrained in the rear.

The driver, a 22-year-old Redbank Plains woman, was issued with seven traffic infringement notices. They included four for carrying unrestrained passengers aged between 7 and 16 years, as well as offences for exceeding the vehicle's registered carrying capacity, driving unaccompanied and failing to display L plates.

Ipswich Highway Patrol Officer in Charge Senior Sergeant Jarrad Tyne said the incident was a reminder that every child must be properly restrained whenever they travel in a vehicle.

"Seatbelts and appropriate child restraints are there to protect lives. In a crash, an unrestrained passenger can be seriously injured or killed and can also put other people in the vehicle at risk," Senior Sergeant Tyne said.

"Drivers are responsible for the safety of everyone in their vehicle. It is simply not worth taking the risk with children's lives by allowing them to travel unrestrained. Make sure everyone is properly secured before you put the car in gear."

He said drivers heading out to celebrate an event or catch up with friends and family should make sure everyone gets home safely.

The Queensland Police Service said that, as part of Operation Interpose, police are boosting high-visibility patrols across the state and enforcing road laws to deter dangerous driving.