August 21, 2015
There were 6835 serious casualties from road crashes in Queensland last year, a figure that the RACQ describes as frightening.
“There is often a lot of talk about the road toll, but what isn’t spoken about frequently enough is how many people are being seriously injured on our roads and the devastating impact this is having on the wider community,” RACQ spokesman Paul Turner said.
“By the end of last year nearly 20 people per day were being taken to Queensland hospitals as the result of crashes. This is unacceptable and must change.
“Serious injuries can be long-term, and those including brain injury and paraplegia have heartbreaking impacts on individuals and their families.”
Mr Turner pleaded with Queenslanders to make cutting the number of serious injuries on our roads a priority as well as cutting the road toll.
“The Fatal Five – drink driving, not wearing seatbelts, speeding, distraction, and fatigue – are the key contributors to crashes in Queensland,” he said.
“We’re calling on motorists to take the responsibility of staying safe on our roads seriously.
“In addition to keeping Queenslanders safe this also reduces the burden on our health system, legal system and emergency services.”
Trauma Director at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital Professor Darryl Wall said lifelong injury burdens were entirely avoidable.
“Every day in Queensland more than 10 people suffer sudden, permanent, distressing and painful amputations of arms and legs,” Professor Wall said.
“Road trauma is entirely preventable and can go on hurting many for a lifetime.”
