Motorists driving along Queensland beaches this Christmas are being warned to behave responsibly to avoid potentially long wait times for help as emergency services manage tides and resources.
Authorities say emergency responders can be more than an hour away at popular beach driving locations on the Cooloola Coast and K'gari (Fraser Island).
Tin Can Bay police officer in charge, Sergeant Mick Bazzo, said people being deliberately reckless were risking their lives.
"The majority of our accidents on the beach have a factor of alcohol or drugs involved," Sergeant Bazzo said.
"The majority of the hooning behaviour either happens late at night, particularly on the low tide, but if the tides aren't working well for us [it] can be up to 45 and 50 minutes [before help can arrive].
"On top of that, there's the distance that people have to travel to get some mobile phone reception to contact emergency service to raise the alarm."
Police are targeting hooning behaviour along the Cooloola Coast.
In October, 80 campers in 40 vehicles were told to pack up and leave Teewah Beach and four people were arrested for public nuisance after a "bush doof" was held.
Police said drink driving at the party also led to three crashes and another vehicle rolled when the driver was performing "doughnuts".
Reinforcements coming
Police expect the population around the Cooloola Coast to quadruple over the festive season.
Additional officers from the tactical crime squad, specialised traffic police and personnel from other regions are being called in to help patrol the region.
Sergeant Bazzo said police aimed to maintain the downward trend of offending along the Cooloola Coast from Teewah Beach to Inskip Point after it peaked earlier this year.
"The number of infringements that we are writing has gone down but unfortunately, we're still getting drunk drivers and drug drivers on the beach," he said.
"There will be an increase in the range of breath testing sites and mobile breath testing, along with random mobile and stationary drug testing."
Lack of preparation costly
Fraser Coast tow truck driver Jamie Young said while he had to tow cars written off by hoons, poor preparation also frequently caused incidents.
"The big mistake people make is not reading the tides because the tides are always varying and if you get caught on a big incoming tide, your vehicle will get destroyed," Mr Young said.
He also urged people to drive cars suited to beach conditions.
"If you try and take them in these soft tracks, they'll get stuck and then you get people banking up behind you and stress levels increase," he said.
He said people who got stuck off the beaten track faced towing fees of more than $2,000.
"There's intermittent internet service on Fraser Island so for the younger generation, Google Maps don't work here," he said.
"It can lead you into some parts of the island that will cost you a lot of money for a tow.
"Make sure you get your basic recovery gear and travel with somebody that's experienced."
What's happening on the ground?
K'gari four-wheel-driver Cheryl Buda said some people drove along the beach like a highway regardless of the tide level.
"It's scary sometimes watching them coming through and they're not really sure and watching the tides is a scary one too," Ms Buda said.
Sunshine Coast resident Sarah Cooper often goes four-wheel-driving through the Great Sandy National Park.
"There's just a few people that let everybody down and don't behave well," Ms Cooper said.
"We've seen people turning into the beach far too fast and starting to drink and people riding in the backs of utes and that sort of thing going on the dunes."
Working together
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service rangers patrol both K'gari and the 60,000 hectares of national park on the Cooloola Coast between the Noosa River and Inskip Point.
Cooloola Coast senior ranger Colin Lawton urged four-wheel-drivers to help preserve the natural beauty of the park.
"The vast majority of campers are fantastic and they do the right thing but there's a small percentage of people who are not," Mr Lawton said.
"A small number of people can make it pretty unpleasant for everybody and a lot of damage to the environment if we're not careful.
"This generation needs to look after for the next generation and 100 years into the future and we're all responsible for that."
