The September school holidays period is traditionally a busy time on Queensland roads and the Mount Isa District Road Policing Unit would like to remind all drivers to take care on the roads and drive responsibly.
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Sgt Paul Quinlan said the Queensland Police Service's state-wide Operation Spring Break road safety campaign will run from September 17 to October 8, with the aim of providing a safe road environment for all road users.
"So far this year, we have lost 199 lives on Queensland roads -17 more than for the same period in 2020," he said.
The major contributing factors in serious and fatal traffic crashes are the Fatal Five:
- Drink/ drug driving - is the number one contributing factor in approximately 30% of fatal traffic crashes in Australia. One in four drivers killed on Australian roads have a blood alcohol limit exceeding the legal limit.
- Seatbelts - not wearing a seatbelt is one of the major causes of death when you are involved in a traffic crash, an unrestrained driver or passenger is eight times more likely to be killed in a road crash.
- Speeding - is a major factor in serious and fatal crashes, a speed of just 5km/h above the speed limit in an urban area or 10km/h in a rural area is enough to double the risk of casualty in a crash.
- Fatigue - is one of the leading causes of traffic crashes and usually result in serious injury or death as the driver is unable to take any preventive action to the crash.
- Distraction/mobile phones - Using a mobile phone whilst driving is highly distracting and increases the chance of a crash by four times.
Sgt Quinlan said motorists can expect to see Mount Isa Police out and about conducting high visibility patrols, speed enforcement, and roadside breath and drug testing over the holiday period to ensure motorists are doing the right thing.
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Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
