RACQ research exposes Qld’s drink and drug driving crisis
RACQ’s 2025 Annual Road Safety Survey has revealed a disturbing surge in dangerous driver behaviour with 15.7% of Queenslanders admitting to drink driving – the highest recorded since the survey began in 2017.
The research also showed 6.1% of drivers admitted to getting behind the wheel after taking illicit drugs.
Head of Public Policy Dr Michael Kane said the findings must be used as a wake-up call.
“We clearly have an increasing drink and drug driving cultural problem in Queensland and it’s causing serious harm to our communities,” Dr Kane said.
“Between 2020 and 2024, an average of 57 people died each year in crashes involving drink drivers, and 59 in drug-related crashes. This is an increase from 2019 when the road toll was 220 with 46 deaths involving drink driving and 43 deaths related to drug driving.
“These aren’t just numbers – they’re people who never made it home to their families and friends who are now grieving.”
RACQ’s research also exposed some concerning behavioural trends to avoid detection while drink driving with more than 50% of motorists saying they’ve taken a different route to avoid roadside testing, and nearly 40% using apps to check for police locations.
With Queensland on track to tragically record a second consecutive year of more than 300 road deaths, RACQ is calling for urgent reforms to be implemented.
“It’s clear too many drivers are not taking the law seriously, and there has been a shift in respect for road rules since COVID with road trauma trending up,” Dr Kane said.
“Queensland’s positive drug test rate in 2023 was 21%, more than double that of NSW, yet our State’s drug testing rate was among the lowest in Australia.
“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.
“We also want to see drug testing made mandatory for drivers at all crash scenes and more investment in drug and alcohol rehabilitation services to curb our shocking culture of drink and drug driving through education and support.”
Further, RACQ is calling for tougher penalties for repeat and extreme offenders, including expanded vehicle impoundment powers to remove dangerous drivers from their vehicles.
“This is a real and growing issue in our state – but it doesn’t have to be,” Dr Kane said.
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