In a world where technology is advancing at a breakneck pace, electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming increasingly common on Australian roads. They’re celebrated for their eco-friendliness and cutting-edge features, but as with any vehicle, they’re not immune to the rules of the road.
This was starkly highlighted last week when a dashcam footage captured reckless road behaviour.
The incident, which took place in Southport on Queensland’s Gold Coast, saw a 38-year-old man driving a Tesla at a shocking 92 km/h in a 40 km/h zone. The police were quick to act, pulling the driver over and issuing not only a $1,854 fine but also an immediate six-month suspension of his driver’s licence and eight demerit points.
The message from the authorities was clear: such behaviour, especially in areas designed to protect the children, is utterly ‘inexcusable.’
Chief Superintendent Garrath Channells of the Queensland Police Service expressed his dismay at the incident, emphasising the ‘crucial reason’ for speed limits at school zones and the dangers that speeding poses to young pedestrians.
‘We must all play our part in protecting the most vulnerable road users, especially our children,’ he urged.
This event is a stark reminder of the persistent issue of speeding on Australian roads. As of Monday, 37 lives have been tragically lost on Queensland roads alone this year, with national road deaths on the rise over the past few years.
According to the National Road Safety Strategy, there were 1,324 deaths on Australian roads in the 12 months ending in January—an increase of 6 per cent from the previous year.
Meanwhile, experts like Dr Chris Stokes, a road safety researcher at the University of Adelaide, warns that speed is a critical factor in 99 per cent of crashes. ‘The faster you hit an object, the harder the impact is going to be,’ he explains.
Even driving less than 5 km/h over the speed limit can double the risk of a casualty crash, making incidents like the one in Southport not just reckless, but potentially deadly.
As we embrace the future of transportation with electric cars, it’s vital to remember that the basic principles of road safety remain unchanged. The laws of physics don’t bend for any vehicle, regardless of how environmentally friendly or technologically advanced it is.
Speed limits, especially in sensitive areas like school zones, are there for a reason, and breaking them can have severe consequences—not just for your wallet, but more so for the safety of the community.
This incident is a call to action for all drivers to reflect on their driving habits and consider the potential impact of their actions.
We invite you to share your thoughts and experiences with road safety and electric vehicles. Have you noticed a change in driving behaviour with the rise of EVs? Do you think enough is being done to enforce speed limits and protect the children? Let the YourLifeChoices community know in the comments below.
Also read: The ‘selfish’ acts contributing to increasing road fatalities
