Crash test cretins: Hoons to ‘donate’ their hotted-up cars for firefighter training
Hoons driving recklessly and terrorising other motorists could soon be doing emergency workers a favour by ‘handing over’ their cars to be destroyed in training exercises.
Hoons may soon have their cars confiscated and destroyed.
Police Minister Mark Ryan is not mincing words as he vows to destroy the cars of hoons who dangerously modify their vehicles and flout the State’s traffic laws.
“If you tear up the road, we’ll tear up your car – it’s that simple,” he said.
“Those people who intentionally endanger their lives, the lives of their passengers and other road users by choosing to engage in illegal, stupid behaviour should expect to be found by the Queensland Police Service, and have their car destroyed by Queensland Fire and Emergency Services as part of their road crash rescue training.”
Legislation amendments, due to be introduced in Parliament on Wednesday, will mean any motorist who is found guilty of hooning could have their car destroyed while in the service of emergency personnel to hone their life-saving crash rescue skills during training.
QFES Commissioner Greg Leach said the arrangement with police would provide crews with enhanced road crash rescue training opportunities and help familiarise firefighters with different types of vehicles.
“Firefighters attend thousands of road crash incidents each year, with many of those requiring the use of specialist cutting equipment to free people,” Leach said.
“While firefighters expand their knowledge with every incident they attend, our crews would much rather practice their skills on a vehicle in a simulated and controlled scenario than on the road in real life.
“The opportunity to learn new skills and techniques on a variety of different vehicles is critical.”
As Queenslanders prepare for the peak summer holiday season, 271 motorists have already lost their lives on Queensland roads this year, compared to 262 during the same period last year.
Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said each life lost represented family members, friends and colleagues, not just a number.
“In almost every crash, it’s the decision made by someone behind the wheel that has had lasting consequences,” she said.
“The decision to drink drive, speed or not wear a seatbelt is in your hands, as is the decision to drive dangerously and engage in reckless, hooning activities.”
