THE Queensland Government are determined to improve safety on Queensland Roads after 299 people died in 2022, being the highest death toll in more than a decade.
Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said discussions will be had to explore what can be done to bring down road deaths.
“What I want to do is get our transport and accident experts, industry leaders, and key stakeholders all together and see how we can make Queensland roads safer, which is why I’ll be hosting a roundtable later this month,” he said.
“The roundtable will include… the Queensland Police Service, RACQ, Safer Australian Roads and Highways Group, Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety Queensland, and the Department of Transport and Main Roads.”
Within the roundtable talks, Minister Bailey said they will discuss relevant trends which have contributed to road deaths this year, including weather and an increase in motorcycle riders.
“We saw a huge jump in motorcycle registrations, and sadly, an increase in the number of motorcycle fatalities,” he said.
“In 2019 we had 45 motorcycle deaths, compared to 74 in 2022… in fact, motorcycle deaths in 2022 were 43 per cent above the five-year average.
“Another big factor in the first six months of 2022 was the heavy rain and flooding we saw throughout the state where we lost 12 due to driving into floodwaters.”
The fatal five main causes for deaths on Queensland Roads last year were speeding, drink/drug driving, not wearing a seatbelt, distraction and fatigue.
