Sign up for road safety
THIS week is Queensland Road Safety Week and Queensland Police, along with the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR), are asking you to sign up for road safety and commit to making our roads safer for all users.
Tragically, 157 people have already lost their lives on Queensland Roads this year (as at July 28), which is 15 more than the same time last year. In 2020, 277 lives were lost and a further 6,952 people were seriously injured in crashes in Queensland. That is more than 7,000 families affected by mostly avoidable incidents.
Whether you are a driver, rider, passenger, cyclist or pedestrian, road safety should be a priority every time you use the road. Know and follow the road rules, and remember to share the road by driving courteously and giving other road users the space they need.
Remember the fatal five
Drink and drug driving contributed to 52% of the fatal crashes in 2020 and 21% of the serious injury crashes. Eleven alcohol impaired pedestrians also lost their lives in the same period.
Speeding contributed to almost a quarter of fatalities and a third of fatalities were related to not wearing seat belts. These are very frustrating statistics considering how long it has been since seat belt laws were introduced and the numerous speed reduction campaigns.
Fatigue contributed to 36 fatalities with 473 people seriously injured, while distraction led to 23 deaths and a further 1,474 people being seriously injured.
Young people between the ages of 17 and 24 are twice as likely to be killed or seriously injured in a crash than the rest of the population. Vehicle passengers make up more than 17% of deaths and about 19% of serious injuries.
It can be difficult to speak up about driving behaviour to a friend or family member, and for young people maybe even more so, but road safety really is everyone’s responsibility.
Report a hoon
You can report hooning and other poor driving behaviour over the phone at 13HOON or online at www.qld.gov.au/law/crime-and-police/register-or-report-to-police/report-a-traffic-incident or at your local police station. You need to have witnessed the incident to report it and have as much detail as possible about the vehicle or vehicles involved.