Queensland motorists could be required to complete an online course on changes to road rules when renewing their licences as part of a raft of proposed road safety measures.
The state's Transport Minister Mark Bailey said the government was considering the introduction of a "refresher course" on road rules for people who are renewing their drivers licence.
It is one of a range of suggested measures following the Road Safety Roundtable held earlier this year, which was prompted by Queensland recording the worst year of road fatalities in 13 years in 2022.
Mr Bailey said the refresher course would not be designed to be an onerous and time-consuming test but would update drivers to changes in rules.
"It might look like, you go online, you have a range of questions that cover the new territory that's happened since you last got your licence," he told ABC Radio Brisbane.
"It's designed to be a refresher course, that people would look to do in an easy online way, that gives you a good review of what's happened in the last four or five years, since you got your licence last time."
Speaking at a press conference Mr Bailey suggested the refresher course would be similar to the online assessment learner drivers must complete called PrepL in Queensland.
Mr Bailey said answering the refresher course questions incorrectly would not result in someone losing their licence, and that a motorist would have multiple attempts to answer correctly.
"You basically have opportunities to get it right, it's really about education, it's not whether we take your licence off you or not, it's about educating you as a driver."
Queensland Opposition deputy leader Jarrod Bleijie said the party needed more details before forming a position on the proposed changes.
"When is it being rolled out, what is the timeline, what happens if the computer system crashes and someone needs their licence renewed on the particular day," Mr Bleijie said.
"What happens when people actually have to physically go into the Transport and Main Roads office … are there going to be systems in place, are they going to be properly resourced?"
The RACQ welcomed the road safety initiatives.
'No excuse' for high-range offences
Mr Bailey said the government was seeking feedback on the new road safety ideas, which also include an immediate licence suspension for high-range speeding offences.
He said if people were caught travelling at 40kph or more over the speed limit, "there is absolutely no excuse whatsoever".
"That's something we're looking at … if you get caught and pulled over at that kind of speed, then it's kind of 'hand over the keys, thanks very much,' and the car stays where it is, and an immediate suspension," he said.
"I think getting that kind of a driver off the road as quickly as possible would be a positive measure."
The Queensland government launched its Ride to Zero program on Monda, targeting motorcycle deaths — an initiative developing mentoring programs, new resources and supporting motorcycling organisations.
"Last year, we saw 74 deaths on our roads, a big increase in the number of motorcycle riders, out of the 297 deaths," Mr Bailey said.
"Only five per cent of road users are motorcycle riders but they made up 25 per cent of deaths last year.
"So we're very worried about that."
Mr Bailey said the initiative will involve the government working with the motorcycling community clubs to improve safety through a peer-to-peer process among riders.
"We want to see a lot more mentoring of new riders, for instance, so that the skill level increases as quickly as possible, and the culture of safety around motorcycle riding improves as well," he said.
"It's not necessarily what the government says in our advertising that they'll listen to, but much more they'll listen to fellow riders and people in that community."
