Queensland is experiencing a significant increase in road fatalities in 2025. In Brisbane’s southern suburbs alone, 15 deaths have been recorded so far this year, six more than during the same period in 2023. The state recorded its worst year for road trauma in 15 years in 2024, and early figures suggest this dangerous trend is continuing.
Dylan Anderson
Police Target Extreme Speeding and Dangerous Driving
Queensland Police have launched intensified enforcement operations, focusing on the key contributors to road trauma known as the "fatal five": speeding, fatigue, distraction, driving under the influence, and not wearing seatbelts. In recent operations across Brisbane’s south, police detected multiple extreme speeding offences. These included a motorbike allegedly travelling at 191 km/h on the Pacific Motorway and a yellow Porsche allegedly caught at 168 km/h in a 90 km/h zone. Other incidents included drivers with extremely high blood alcohol levels, such as one recording 0.364 BAC—more than seven times the legal limit.
Statewide Enforcement Blitz
Targeted blitzes are being deployed across high-risk areas in Queensland as part of the state’s strategy to curb the increasing toll. Queensland Police have adopted a zero-tolerance approach, applying heavy penalties for those caught engaging in risky behaviours. The Porsche driver in one incident received a $1,854 fine.
National Road Toll Trends
The problem in Queensland reflects a broader national issue. In 2024, 1,300 people lost their lives on Australian roads, marking the highest toll since 2012. This rise has continued for four consecutive years, a trend not seen since before seatbelts were made mandatory in Australia. The final quarter of 2024 was particularly deadly, with 359 deaths—the worst three-month period in over a decade.
Dylan Anderson
Enforcement and Safety Measures Under Review
While population growth has been cited as a factor contributing to more vehicles on the road, experts highlight that this does not fully explain the increase in fatalities. Road safety advocates are calling for more extensive enforcement measures, including expanded use of automated systems such as average speed cameras for light vehicles, which are still not widely implemented in many states.
Government efforts to meet road safety targets have also fallen short. Australia’s National Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030, which aims to halve road deaths by 2030, is currently off track as fatalities continue to rise.
Economic and Human Costs Mount
The cost of road trauma in Australia is estimated to be $30 billion annually. In addition to the financial burden, each road death leaves lasting impacts on families, communities, and emergency services. Authorities stress the need for ongoing, decisive action to improve road safety outcomes, combining enforcement, education, and infrastructure upgrades to prevent further loss of life.
Dylan Anderson
Dylan Anderson
