December 12, 2012
Distracted drivers are dangerous drivers! That’s the message police, emergency services personnel and politicians want to get through to local motorists over the Christmas break.
In fact, one in every 10 deaths on Queensland roads is attributed to driver distraction.
“Inattention” this week officially joined the Fatal Four – speeding, drink driving, not wearing a seatbelt and driving while fatigued – as a police priority for the Christmas Road Safety campaign.
Local police told southburnett.com.au they will continue to focus their efforts in Kingaroy and surrounding towns targeting motorists who drive while distracted, especially while using handheld mobile phones.
And they reminded drivers that police officers have the power to issue a traffic infringement notice with a penalty of $330 and three demerit points for using a mobile phone while driving.
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The Christmas holiday period is one of the worst times of the year for serious road crashes and deaths.
Police Minister Mr Jack Dempsey said too many Queensland drivers were being distracted while on the road by things such as using a mobile phone, complex sound systems, on-board DVD and satellite navigation.
“In 2011, 15 per cent of people taken to hospital after a car crash were in a crash caused by inattention,” Mr Dempsey said.
“Between 1 January 2010 and 31 July 2012 more than 96,000 driver distraction offences were recorded in Queensland.
“After a horror weekend on the state’s roads, I ask that Queenslanders keep the Fatal Five in their minds as they travel this Christmas.
“We all want nothing more than for everyone to arrive at their destinations safely. No phone call or song is worth the lives of you or your loved ones.”
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Police Commissioner Ian Stewart said officers would be out in force throughout Queensland over the Christmas holidays.
“The community’s safety is our priority and police will continue to target drivers who break the law,” Commissioner Stewart said.
“Over this period, police will be deployed across the State and will use covert and marked mobile speed cameras, marked and unmarked police patrols, fixed speed cameras, hand-held speed detection devices and the automatic number plate recognition system.
“Let me be clear; if you speed, drink drive, don’t wear a seatbelt, do not pay attention or drive while tired, you will not only be caught by police, but you risk your life and the life of every other road user, and that is just not acceptable.
“My message is simple; stop and think about what your family would do without you this Christmas and every Christmas to come, before you take risks on the road.”
The Christmas Road Safety Campaign officially began at midnight on Tuesday and will continue until until midnight on February 1.
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Queensland Fire and Rescue Service Commissioner Lee Johnson said firefighters were attending jobs on Queensland roads every day which could have easily been avoided.
“Each year firefighters witness a number of deaths which would not have happened if people chose to slow down or not drive through floodwaters,” Mr Johnson said.
“Firefighters across the State responded to 767 road traffic crashes last Christmas school holidays.”
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Queensland Ambulance Service Commissioner Russell Bowles said paramedics responded to 1309 road traffic incidents and transported a total of 1648 patients to hospital last Christmas school holidays.
“There is never a good time for deadly crashes but perhaps the worst time is at this time of year when Christmas would serve as a constant reminder year after year.”
