Ministerial Media Statements:
State Government to introduce tough new hit and run penalties - 11 July, 2006
Premier Peter Beattie announced today the State Government will introduce tough new legislation to crack down on dangerous driving. Mr Beattie said new penalites would be introduced for excessive speeding, racing, speed trialling and hit and runs.

“Our road toll is simply too high,” he said. “We must do whatever we can to stop the senseless waste of lives on our roads. “We are acting against hoons who think our roads are their private raceways and the hit-and-run cowards who leave their victims to suffer, and often die, by the roadside.” Under section 328A of the Criminal Code dangerous driving currently carries a maximum penalty of three or five years if the offender is affected by an intoxicating substance or has been previously convicted of an offence against that section,” Mr Beattie said.

“Dangerous driving causing death or grievous bodily harm carries seven years. The offence carries imprisonment of 10 years if the offender is adversely affected by an intoxicating substance and a maximum of 14 years applies if the offender’s blood alcohol concentration is over 0.15.

“Under the proposed amendments, the five year penalty will now apply in cases of excessive speeding, racing or speed trialling. “In addition, dangerous driving causing death or grievous bodily harm will be increased to 10 years’ imprisonment or 14 years if the offender is adversely affected by an intoxicating substance, is excessively speeding, speed trialling or leaves the scene of an accident.

“Excessive speed will be defined as 40 kilometres over the designated speed limit and if the offender is guilty of using an intoxicating substance it will not matter what level.” Mr Beattie said there had been a number of recent cases involving ‘hit and runs’.

They include:

In a 2002 case in the District Court, a stolen car driven by Sandra Wilde collided with a group of cyclists, killing one cyclist and wounding another. Witnesses said the driver was seen driving erratically before the collision. Wilde failed to stop at the scene, so could not be tested for drugs or alcohol. The maximum penalty was seven years and the Court of Appeal imposed five years. Under the proposed new laws, the maximum penalty would be 14 years.

Earlier this month, a 41-year-old cyclist from Palm Beach was killed by a hit and run driver. Witnesses said the man was struck by a white tray-back utility while crossing the TallebudgeraBridge on a Saturday night.

In late June, a 50-year-old man in a wheelchair was killed at a pedestrian crossing at Deception Bay, north of Brisbane, in a hit and run accident. The man died at the scene.

“Drivers who fail to stop after an accident show an appalling lack of remorse or compassion for the victim,” Mr Beattie said. “A driver’s failure to stop after an incident also prevents blood and breath testing or an assessment of the driver as to whether they are adversely affected by an intoxicating substance,” he said. “The amendments will help address this issue.” 11 July, 2006

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