Dangerous driving habits fuel concern for young Queenslanders
RACQ’s 2026 Annual Road Safety Survey found 28% of Queenslanders aged 18-24 confessed to driving unrestrained, a 9% increase on the prior year.
Concerningly, almost a quarter (22.8%) of young Queenslanders also admitted to driving under the influence of drugs, up from 15.9% in 2025.
While the number of young drivers who admitted to speeding is down from last year, three in five (63.2%) confessed to being lead foots in 2026.
RACQ Executive Manager Road Safety Josh Cooney said the research showed a deeply concerning trend as the State grapples with a road safety crisis.
“Young drivers continue to be overrepresented in serious and fatal crashes on our roads, and these latest results are worrying,” Mr Cooney said.
“In 2025, P-plate drivers and riders were involved in 10% of deaths on Queensland roads – a tragic reminder that inexperience, risk-taking and poor decisions behind the wheel can have devastating consequences.
“Every time someone drives without a seatbelt, speeds or gets behind the wheel intoxicated, they are putting their life and the lives of others at risk.”
While RACQ welcomed the State Government’s recent road safety reforms, Mr Cooney said the survey reinforced the need for stronger on-road enforcement.
“We know there is an ongoing recruitment drive for more police, but we need details on how this translates to more road safety enforcement hours,” Mr Cooney said.
“RACQ is calling for more random breath tests, more roadside drug tests and mandatory drug testing for every crash police attend to increase the chances dangerous drivers are caught before they cause serious harm.
“The more visible police are on our roads to deter and detect dangerous behaviours, the better our chances of curbing this road safety crisis that’s tragically killing far too many Queenslanders.”
*Data from RACQ’s 2026 Annual Road Safety Survey
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