Sunshine Coast police have issued more than 280 traffic infringement notices (TIN) and breath tested more than 1,300 drivers during Operation Cold Snap, focusing on road safety over the winter school holidays.
From June 22 to July 8, police in the Sunshine Coast district saturated local roadways to enforce and encourage safe driving to ensure all road users got to their holiday destination, and home again, safely.
The two-week road safety blitz included roadside breath testing, stationary observation, and overt and covert patrols along highways and major road corridors.
Police issued more than 280 traffic infringement notices (TINs), including 10 for mobile phone use, one for not wearing a seatbelt and more than 85 for speeding.
Police also conducted more than 1,300 breath tests and found 12 drug drivers and 23 drink drivers.
Sadly, one person died in a fatal traffic crash on the Sunshine Coast during Operation Cold Snap, bringing the total road fatalities for the district so far this year to four lives.
That’s in addition to 22 people injured in 20 injury crashes.
Sunshine Coast Highway Patrol Officer in Charge Senior Sergeant Shane Panoho said each life lost is a tragedy.
“Our goal is always zero lives lost so each one is saddening but pushes us to strengthen road safety in our community,” Senior Sergeant Panoho said.
“As expected, we saw a significant increase in traffic volumes across our roads over the school holidays, and through Operation Cold Snap, police were able to educate and enforce road safety.
“Police took opportunities to have conversations with drivers to further educate about the proven causes of traffic crashes including speed, impaired driving, fatigue, seat belt use, driver distraction and vehicle safety standards.
“Though school is back, patrols don’t stop here.
“Sunshine Coast Highway Patrol is committed to keeping Sunshine Coast roads safe for all road users and will continue to do so each and every day.”
