##MP##

The state government has significantly raised a range of fines for traffic offences.

From July, penalties for speeding, running a red light and not wearing a seatbelt will increase, in the most extreme case by more than double.

“We’ve had a tragic start to the year, with 81 lives lost on Queensland roads already – that’s 81 people who are missing from dinner tables around the state,” said Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey.

“We are reaffirming our commitment to zero road deaths and serious injuries by 2050 by cracking down on driver behaviour.”

##BA##

People caught speeding by 10 kilometres/hour or less will be fined $287, an increase of more than $100.

At the higher range, those clocked at more than 40 kilometres per hour above the limit will be $1,653 out of pocket, up from $1,286.

Running a red light will set you back $575, or around $130 more than it does now.

The steepest rise is for not wearing a seatbelt – or not wearing it properly – with the fine more than doubling to $1,078.

Mr Bailey says that’s in line with the penalty for mobile phone use.

“We’ve been educating drivers on the importance of seatbelts for 50 years, but somehow the message didn’t get through to almost 14,000 people, so it’s time to get tough,” he said.

##PQ##

Almost 50,000 fines statewide and more than 2,000 in Far North Queensland have been given to drivers caught using mobile phones since new cameras were rolled out last November.

That's almost $40 million in fines.

Mr Bailey said all revenue from road fines is reinvested into road safety.

You can read the full strategy here.

ROAD SAFETY

Main points

  • Fines for speeding, not wearing seltbelts and running red lights are being raised from July
  • Not wearing a seatbelt will set you back more than $1,000
  • Almost 50,000 Queenslanders have received fines for mobile phone use over the past 6 months
We make no apologies for being tough on this reckless and dangerous behaviour, just like we did for mobile phone offences.
MARK BAILEY
MAIN ROADS MINISTER