New laws passed to crack down on dangerous driving making Queensland safer.

The introduction of new laws offers a modernised offence framework with increased jail terms and licence disqualifications for serious and repeat offenders providing stronger laws targeting high-risk, dangerous driving to save lives on Queensland roads. These reforms include tougher penalties for drink and drug driving and introduce minimum fines and new enforcement powers strengthening laws with the passing of two significant pieces of legislation through the Queensland Parliament to overhaul Queensland’s dangerous driving laws and save lives on our roads. 

The Criminal Code (Dangerous Driving) and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2026 strengthens penalties and restores accountability to put the rights of victims ahead of the rights of offenders. 

These new laws replace Queensland’s existing dangerous driving offences with a stronger, clearer and modernised framework, which includes four categories of offending covering motor vehicles and alternative modes of transport restoring safety where you live and getting Queenslanders home sooner and safer.  

The legislation also delivers a range of targeted reforms, including:  

Higher maximum penalties for dangerous driving, particularly for motor vehicle offences, including up to 5- or 7- years imprisonment where no death or grievous bodily harm is caused, and up to 16- or 25-years imprisonment where death or grievous bodily harm occurs. 

Increased minimum licence disqualification periods, with tougher consequences for offences involving death or grievous bodily harm, aggravated offending, and repeat offenders. 

Expanded mandatory imprisonment requirements for serious and repeat dangerous driving offenders, ensuring jail sentences apply in a broader range of circumstances.  

The Transport and Other Legislation Amendment Act (2026) targets the most dangerous driving behaviours on Queensland roads including drink and drug driving, extreme speeding, and failure to wear a seatbelt. 

From 1 December 2026, offenders will face: 

Doubled penalties for drug driving, with higher fines and longer licence disqualifications.

Stronger penalties for combined drink and drug offences, targeting a growing and highly dangerous behaviour.

Minimum court-imposed fines to ensure penalties match the seriousness of offences.

Immediate six-month licence suspensions for drivers caught more than 40km/h over the speed limit.

Improved seatbelt enforcement, allowing drivers to nominate adult passengers so the right person is held accountable. 

Further changes rolling out in 2027 will streamline roadside drug testing, allowing more tests and faster enforcement, while introducing a mandatory drug driving education program to tackle repeat offending. 

This evidence-based response is informed by expert advice, crash data, enforcement trends and community expectations.  

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister for Integrity Deb Frecklington believes these changes will assist in cracking down on dangerous drivers who put innocent lives at risk and help prevent the devastating consequences of dangerous driving sending a clear message to offenders - if you choose to act dangerously behind the wheel, you will face serious consequences.

These new laws put the rights of victims ahead of violent offenders with tougher penalties and a more modernised offence framework to ensure that laws meet the expectations of the community with the hope of reducing road trauma.

Minister for Transport and Main Roads Brent Mickelberg said Queensland’s road toll has been trending upwards for far too long, and these new laws target the behaviours killing people on our roads.  

"Drug driving has overtaken drink driving as the leading cause of motor vehicle deaths, with THC detected in more than 60 per cent of drug-driving deaths - it’s simply not safe to drive with drugs in your system.   

“We are taking a zero-tolerance approach to dangerous behaviour behind the wheel, so more Queenslanders can get home safer and sooner.”