The Queensland government is expanding its "Hold the Red" radars to more than a dozen new locations in the hope of reducing crashes caused by people running red lights.
To mark the beginning of National Road Safety Week, which runs until May 21, the state government announced the extension of the technology that uses radar to detect vehicles about to run a red light.
The system implements a two-second delay to the changing of the opposite green light, preventing other motorists or pedestrians from entering the intersection.
The state government has run trials of the technology at four south-east Queensland intersections over the last five years, in Calamvale, Aspley, Ashmore and Broadbeach Waters.
Transport Minister Mark Bailey said it will now be rolled out at 15 more intersections across the state.
"Running red lights is a huge risk to other people," he said.
"If you get T-boned in the driver's door it can have some very dire consequences, and unfortunately, we still see too many people on our roads running red lights.
"This technology saves lives, saves people from being injured, and is very, very effective."
RACQ welcomes expansion
QUT's Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety Queensland (CARRS-Q) evaluated the government's trials of the technology, and found it could reduce red light running-related crashes by up to a third.
Mr Bailey said the 15 intersections chosen for the expanded rollout were all locations with "poor safety records" for drivers running red lights
RACQ CEO David Carter said the expansion of the trial into regional Queensland, as well as Brisbane, was welcome.
"It particularly saves the lives of the most vulnerable users of our roads, motorcyclists, cyclists, scooter riders and pedestrians, where the impact of a vehicle running a red light can be catastrophic," he said.
"As we are at the start of National Road Safety Week, we join the call for everyone out there on the roads to really think carefully about the choices everybody is making.
"Think as though everyone else around you on the roads are your family and friends, and you want to protect them."
The state government says more than 80 people have already died on Queensland roads in 2023.
Hold the Red technology is one of several programs the government is considering implementing or expanding to improve road safety, including new targeted road rule information for young drivers and immediate licence suspension for high-range speeding offences.
