A calmer year on Ipswich roads

WHILE the state road toll has already eclipsed last year's total, Ipswich is on track to have a safer year.

WHILE the state road toll has already eclipsed last year's total, Ipswich is on track to have a safer year.

Ipswich roads are set to see slightly fewer crashes than 2011, if only by a small amount.

According to the Ipswich police there have been two fewer deaths on Ipswich roads than there were at this time last year.

Ipswich Inspector Keith McDonald said there had been slightly fewer crashes across the board in 2012.

"Overall at the current rate we'll see a decrease of 2% of all crashes," he said.

"That includes fatals, injuries and non-injuries.

Insp McDonald said while the drop only represented around 30 crashes, any decrease was welcomed by the police.

"The biggest decrease is in the injury-causing crashes. They're down 7% this year from 610 to 570."

While two fewer people have died on Ipswich roads this year, Insp McDonald said fatal accidents couldn't be predicted.

"That number could completely change in one accident," he said.

"There's no predicting fatals. We can do as much road enforcement as possible but unfortunately we can't control that."

Despite Ipswich's improved numbers, Queensland roads have seen more deaths in 2012 than this time last year.

Statewide the road toll was at 203 yesterday, 10 higher than it was at the same time in 2011.

Insp McDonald urged drivers to stay safe on local roads.

"We're asking people to remember to obey the road rules, avoid any kind of road rage and to remember the fatal four - speeding, drink and drug driving, failing to wear seat belts and driving whilst tired," Insp McDonald said.

Originally published as A calmer year on Ipswich roads