Queensland Drivers Admit to Risky Behaviors Amid Rising Road Fatalities

Recent findings from the Royal Automobile Club of Queensland (RACQ) reveal a concerning trend: a significant number of drivers are engaging in risky behaviors, contributing to a surge in road fatalities across the state.

According to RACQ's 2025 Annual Road Safety Survey, 15.7% of respondents admitted to driving under the influence of alcohol, marking the highest percentage since the survey's inception in 2017. Additionally, 6.1% reported driving after using illegal drugs.

Dr. Michael Kane, RACQ's head of public policy, expressed deep concern over these statistics. "We clearly have an increasing drink and drug driving cultural problem in Queensland, and it's causing serious harm to our communities," he stated. "These aren't just numbers – they're people who never made it home to their families and friends who are now grieving."

The survey also uncovered that over half of the drivers who admitted to drink driving had altered their routes to evade police testing sites, while 40% utilized mobile apps to identify the locations of roadside checks.

In response to these alarming trends, RACQ is advocating for several policy changes:

Enhanced Roadside Testing: An increase in roadside drug and alcohol testing, including mandatory drug screening at all crash sites.

Support Services: More funding for addiction support services to address underlying behaviors.

Stricter Penalties: Tougher consequences for repeat offenders, such as extended vehicle impoundment powers to swiftly remove high-risk drivers from the road.

Dr. Kane highlighted the urgency of these measures, noting that Queensland's drug test positivity rate in 2023 was 21%, more than double that of New South Wales, despite lower testing frequency. "We are seeing more police back on our roads, but RACQ wants a continued increase of roadside drug and alcohol testing to expand the likelihood of dangerous drivers being caught," he emphasized.

Beyond impaired driving, RACQ is raising concerns about the safety of e-mobility devices. In 2024, eight people lost their lives on personal mobility devices in Queensland. The organization is calling for police to be granted powers to seize non-compliant personal mobility devices, particularly those exceeding legal speed thresholds or lacking registration. Under Queensland law, such vehicles are categorized as unregistered motorcycles and cannot legally operate on public roads or pathways.

Joshua Cooney, RACQ's general manager of advocacy, stated, "We're calling on the state government to use existing laws to impound these illegal and dangerous devices and remove them from our roads and pathways. These devices greatly increase the risk of severe injury or death."

As Queensland grapples with these challenges, RACQ's findings serve as a stark reminder of the need for collective action to enhance road safety and protect all road users.