Queensland’s peak motoring body, RACQ, has launched a new campaign demanding significant government road safety reforms as the state’s road death toll for the year surpasses 180. Experts caution that Queensland is on track to match or exceed last year’s grim total of 302 fatalities, marking the highest number in over a decade.
“It’s time to get serious on road safety and crack down on dangerous drivers to save lives,” RACQ CEO David Carter stated. “It’s clear we have a cultural crisis on our roads.”
RACQ’s Campaign for Road Safety Reforms
As Queensland Road Safety Week commences, RACQ is urging the state government to take immediate action. The organization has introduced a new online dashboard designed to pressure policymakers and increase public awareness of high-risk areas. This initiative is part of its landmark Get Serious on Road Safety campaign, launched in collaboration with national road safety advocates.
RACQ is advocating for several critical changes, including an increase in roadside drug and alcohol testing and expanded vehicle impoundment powers to remove dangerous drivers from the roads. “We must see a significant boost in roadside drug and alcohol testing, supported by investment in rehabilitation to curb this alarming culture,” Carter emphasized.
Push to Save Lives
RACQ’s campaign highlights that speeding, drink driving, and drug driving are the top three causes of road trauma in Queensland. To combat these issues, the organization is also calling for the urgent deployment of more point-to-point speed cameras and an increased police presence on high-risk roads.
“Over the five years, there were 31,742 crashes where people were killed or seriously injured on Queensland roads. That represents an estimated social cost of $35.7 billion,” Carter noted.
Queensland University of Technology’s road safety expert, Narelle Haworth, underscores the need for increased investment in prevention. “For every fatality, there’s at least 40 other injuries that are serious enough to affect people and their families for the rest of their lives,” she said. “We can take the lessons we learned from the introduction of random breath testing, research shows the perceived likelihood of getting caught is what deters bad behavior.”
Interactive Map Reveals Dangerous Hotspots
As part of the campaign, RACQ has unveiled a new interactive Queensland Road Trauma Map, highlighting the state’s most severe crash and fatality hotspots. This tool aims to raise awareness of the extent and distribution of serious crashes, helping the public understand where dangers are most concentrated.
Road safety advocates, including Judy Lindsay, whose daughter Hayley was killed by a drunk driver, have lent their support to the initiative. “He took Hayley’s life in his hands and threw it away,” Lindsay lamented. “We need to do more to avoid tragedies on our roads, and we also need harsher penalties for those who do the wrong thing.”
Personal Stories Fuel the Call for Change
Peter Frazer OAM, founder of Australia’s National Road Safety Week, also shares a personal connection to road trauma. His daughter Sarah was killed in a roadside crash involving a truck. “As everyone has a right to get home safe, any life lost is one too many,” he said. “While all Australian governments have committed to halving the road toll by 2030, the number of lives lost continues in the wrong direction.”
“Enough is enough. It’s time to implement stronger enforcement and consequences to stop this unnecessary and tragic loss of life,” Frazer urged.
Survey Reveals Alarming Driver Behavior
According to a recent RACQ survey, one in six Queenslanders admitted to drink driving, the highest rate since the survey began in 2017. More than half of the respondents reported avoiding random breath tests by altering their routes, while 40% used apps to evade police, and 6% confessed to using illicit drugs before driving.
Judy Lindsay encourages drivers to take responsibility during Queensland Road Safety Week. “Don’t wait for it to be your child or loved one,” she advised. “We all need to push for change now, it starts with all of us.”
The call for road safety reforms in Queensland is not just a plea for policy changes but a demand for cultural transformation. As the state grapples with its road safety crisis, the combined efforts of organizations, experts, and individuals aim to foster a safer environment for all road users.
