Queensland drivers caught running a red 30,000 times last year

An industry group has slammed dangerous drivers for running red lights after they were caught more than 30,000 times across Queensland in a single year.

State police data shows that in 2021, a motorist ran through a red once every 17 minutes, leading to the Royal Automobile Club of Queensland (RACQ) issuing a safety plea.

RACQ Spokesperson Tristan Vorias said it was extremely disappointing to see so many motorists risking their lives and the lives of others.

“Ignoring a red light is one of the most dangerous decisions any driver can make,” Vorias said.

“You’re not only running the risk of crashing into other motorists, but also our most vulnerable road users like pedestrians and cyclists.”

The data, obtained by RACQ, also revealed the worst intersections for red light runners in 2021, with the Gold Coast Highway and Margaret Avenue at Broadbeach taking top spot with 1636 fines issued.

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Two intersections on Ipswich Road came in second and third place with the Cornwall Street intersection at Woolloongabba and the Venner Road intersection at Annerley recording 1547 and 1194 fines, respectively.

But far from being a city problem, Vorias said a significant number of motorists were also caught breaking the law in regional Queensland.

The intersection of Moores Creek Road, High Street and Alexandra Street in Rockhampton caught 690 motorists running red lights, and the Bruce Highway and Coombs Street intersection in Cairns recorded 517.

“Already we’ve seen more than 160 people die on Queensland roads this year and we are tragically on track to surpass last year’s road toll," he added.

“Motorists need to stop risking lives just to save a few seconds. They need to be prepared to slow or stop when approaching traffic signals and treat yellow lights as though they are red.”

Red light hotspots