Queensland Police have reported that over 95 traffic violations were recorded during the inaugural weekend of Operation Sandstorm, which focuses on ensuring safety on beach roads.
This initiative, aimed at regulating beach driving in the regions north of the Sunshine Coast during the Easter holiday, has led to nearly 100 citations being issued. Among those penalized were adults accused of allowing unlicensed teenagers to operate vehicles.
Officers from the Sunshine Coast and Gympie highway patrols issued a total of 98 fines and charged nine individuals over the extended Easter weekend at locations including Noosa North Shore, Teewah Beach, and Double Island Point.
From Thursday, April 2, to Sunday, April 5, law enforcement conducted 766 random breath tests alongside 69 random drug tests. During these operations, two drivers were found to have blood alcohol levels of 0.069 and 0.125, while six others tested positive for drugs on roadside tests.
Acting Sergeant Bruce Diachoff of the Sunshine Coast Highway Patrol highlighted a concerning incident involving a 17-year-old P-plater who was allegedly detected driving at 94 kilometers per hour in a 40-kilometer zone at Cooloola. He noted, “On Teewah Beach, there’s a 40-kilometer per hour limit through the campsites… that’s where this individual was caught speeding, which results in an automatic suspension of their driving privileges.” He emphasized the risks posed to families and children in the vicinity.
Additionally, two teenagers were caught operating vehicles without licenses on Noosa North Shore during the police operation. A 53-year-old man from Mitchelton received a fine for allowing a 15-year-old girl to drive a Mitsubishi Pajero without a seatbelt at Double Island Point. Similarly, a 48-year-old man from Wurtulla was fined after a 14-year-old boy was detected driving a Toyota Hilux at 55 kilometers per hour in a 40-kilometer zone along Teewah Beach.
Acting Sergeant Diachoff reiterated the importance of adhering to road rules even when driving on beaches. “It’s not appropriate to teach children how to drive in such conditions, especially at such young ages where they haven’t undergone a perception test—being only 14 and 15 years old,” he stated. “They lack the reaction times that adults possess, which is crucial in a beach driving environment.”
In another incident, a 54-year-old man was fined $1,209 for allegedly reversing a caravan with a child seated on his lap at Cooloola, resulting in a loss of four demerit points. Furthermore, police issued fines to 26 individuals for operating defective vehicles, with four of these vehicles being ordered off the road due to significant defects. Additional penalties were handed out to 14 individuals for not wearing seatbelts, four for improperly secured loads, and two for careless driving.
Authorities plan to maintain their beach patrols throughout the remaining duration of the school holidays.
