DRIVERS who run amber lights and blast music from their vehicles could be facing tough penalties as police crack down on traffic offences.

South Eastern Police Regional Traffic Co-ordinator Inspector Karen Shaw said officers would be targeting the Fatal Five - inattention, speeding, drink-driving, not wearing a seatbelt and driving while tired - in a bid to lower the region's road toll.

"The start of the new year gives us the chance to think about what personal driving behaviours we can correct or improve, such as staying calm and preparing for your journey," she said.

"We still have too many people dying on our roads, and we make no apologies for issuing motorists with enforcement action as a result of them not stopping to think about their behaviour."

The warnings follow tweets posted by the Queensland Police Service reminding motorists of a range of traffic offences.

"Patience is a virtue. Driving through a yellow light costs you the same as driving through a red one. $330+3 points," they posted.

While 1763 people were fined in Queensland for infringements related to failing to stop at an amber traffic light in the 2011-12 financial year, the Twitter post was met with confusion from many drivers who were unaware such a law existed.

Insp Shaw said driving through an orange light had long been a traffic offence, and motorists were required to stop when it was safe to do so.

"People think it's all right to go when it is orange, but they do need to take all necessary actions to stop," she said.

The Queensland Police Service also sparked conversation on Facebook, when they reminded drivers that driving with excessively loud music could lead to a $175 fine.

Again, responses showed many were unaware of the law, despite 3534 Queenslanders being fined in the past financial year for incidents relating to excessive noise in a vehicle.

Insp Shaw said speed and drink-driving remained the biggest dangers to road users.

"We've had a multiple fatality crash on the M1 at Coomera recently, and something as significant as that has still not slowed the motoring public down, and we are still recording phenomenally high speeds on the motorway," she said.

"In the last two days alone, we have recorded almost 100 drink-drivers in the southeastern region.

"It's frightening that so many people are willing to take that risk to themselves and others."

In one incident, a woman recorded a blood-alcohol level of 0.278, more than five times the legal limit.

The 49-year-old was pulled over by police at Banora Point in northern NSW. She was charged with high-range drink-driving and had her licence confiscated.

Gold Coast Bulletin