Tragic Toll: Wide Bay district the worst in QLD for road fatalities

The district has recorded 11 more fatalities than this time last year - here’s what police say is steering us towards our worst year for road deaths on record

The Wide Bay road toll is heading towards one of its worst on record, with already 11 more fatalities than this time last year.

It comes just days after a man in his 30s was killed in a crash at the intersection of Rosedale Rd and Booloongie Rd.

As a result local police will be ramping up their already heavy presence on the roads and will also increase their messaging in a bid to prevent more tragedies.

Wide Bay Burnett District Officer Superintendent Mick Sawrey said to date there had been 18 deaths on the roads of the Wide Bay police district.

Wide Bay Burnett District Officer Superintendent Mick Sawrey.

The figure means Wide Bay’s road toll is already about half of the annual figure last year.

“That is the highest fatality rate in any district in Queensland, and it’s disappointing we’re plus 11 on how we were last year,” he said.

“Unfortunately a lot of it comes down to the attitudes of our drivers and the decisions they’re making.

“Speed is a significant factor, we have recorded in the last week a person doing 192km/h in a 100 zone and unfortunately another one in the local area here doing 194 in a 100 zone. Speed is a killer.”

He said people choosing to drive after using drugs or drinking alcohol was another significant factor.

“In the Wide Bay police district we’ve conducted over 67,000 roadside breath tests this year alone and unfortunately we’ve picked up more than 350 drink drivers as part of that,” he said.

“Drug drivers are also a real concern for me, we’ve had over 250 people taken action against while driving with drugs in their system.

“I’m pleading with drivers in the Wide Bay and visiting the Wide Bay to be safe.”

Bundaberg Police Inspector Anne Vogler.

Bundaberg Patrol Group Inspector Anne Vogler said in there had been 10 crashes with 13 fatalities in the area.

“It’s really sad to talk about these people’s lives as statistics, one life is too many,” she said,

“Along with the Superintendent, I’m asking for people to be patient on the road, there’s no need to get to that place quicker it’s ok to be a little bit late.

“The most important thing is to get to the place with your loved ones and family and to get home to them.

Officer in Charge of the Bundaberg Road Policing Unit Sergeant Marty Arnold shows Police Minister Mark Ryan and Bundaberg MP Tom Smith inside the roadside drug and alcohol testing van.

Police Minister Mark Ryan was in Bundaberg Wednesday to talk about road safety initiatives for the district with local police.

He called on the people of the Wide Bay district to make good decisions while they’re on the roads.

“The road safety data for this particular district is very disappointing this year, it is actually the worst district when it comes to road fatalities for this year,” he said.

“That is disappointing, because at the end of the day road safety is everyone’s business.

“Whenever you get behind the wheel of a car or another vehicle, you have a responsibility to yourself, your family and friends, and also the rest of the community.

“Making good decisions on our roads are life saving decisions.”