December 21, 2017
Motorists are being urged to stay focused and not drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs this Christmas and New Year.
Transport Minister Mark Bailey released statistics for the Wide Bay and Darling Downs areas which highlight the main dangers on local roads.
“Every death on our roads is an avoidable tragedy and we want to see all Queenslanders enjoy a happy and safe Christmas,” he said.
“If we all abide by the road rules and do our part, we can make our roads safer for everyone.”
Police Minister Mark Ryan said 242 Queenslanders (at December 21) would not be enjoying Christmas with their families this year.
“While the Queensland road toll may be five less than for the same time last year, it’s still one life too many for the loved ones left behind this Christmas,” Mr Ryan said.
“Then there is another 6200 people seriously injured on our roads this year – whose lives, and that of their families, may never be the same.”
Mr Ryan said police officers would be out in numbers during the Christmas and New Year period to reinforce the road safety message.
* * *
During the past five years, there were 117 road fatalities and 1696 people hospitalised as a result of 1477 serious crashes within the Darling Downs District.
Nearly 68 per cent of serious casualties resulted from crashes where drivers or riders were disobeying road rules.
Significant influencing factors of road fatalities in the Darling Downs district were:
- 40 (34.2pc) involved trucks
- 36 (30.8pc) involved alcohol or drugs
- 32 (27.4pc) resulted from head-on crashes.
Significant influencing factors of hospitalised road casualties in the district were:
- 404 (23.8pc) involved driver distraction
- 263 (15.5pc) involved alcohol or drugs
- 201 (11.9pc) involved motorcycles.
Running off the road was the most common type of crash (39.5pc), and intersection crashes made up 25.9 per cent of serious crashes with the district.
* * *
Over the past five years, there were 134 road fatalities and 2189 people hospitalised as a result of 1821 serious crashes in the Wide Bay Burnett district.
More than 62 per cent of serious casualties resulted from crashes where drivers or riders were disobeying road rules.
Significant influencing factors of road fatalities in the Wide Bay Burnett district were:
- 42 (31.3pc) involved alcohol or drugs
- 34 (25.4pc) involved trucks
- 30 (22.4pc) involved speeding.
Significant influencing factors of hospitalised road casualties in the district were:
- 488 (22.3pc) involved driver distraction
- 343 (15.7pc) involved alcohol or drugs
- 297 (13.6pc) involved motorcycles
Running off the road was the most common type of crash (42.5pc), and intersection crashes made up 22.5 per cent of serious crashes within the district.
