Transport Minister Mark Bailey to host road safety roundtable

Queensland’s shocking 2022 road toll of 299 deaths was the state’s worst since 2009, figures show, and while drivers not wearing a seatbelt was a concerning trend among the victims, there were two other key factors that dominated the grim total.

An alarming spike in deaths on Queensland roads caused by speeding and drink-driving has prompted Transport Minister Mark Bailey to convene a roundtable with expert groups.

Last year, Queensland recorded its worst year for road fatalities since 2009 with 299 deaths, with Mr Bailey disturbed by data revealing known danger factors to be key contributors to accidents.

“Speed contributed to 30 per cent of lives lost and six per cent of hospitalisations,” the Transport Minister said.

“This is about a 45 per cent increase in both hospitalisations and fatal crashes where speed was a factor since the start of the pandemic.”

Transport Minister Mark Bailey. Picture: David Clark

Mr Bailey said drink-driving was identified in 23 per cent of deaths, which was an increase of nearly 20 per cent since the start of the pandemic.

“Unfortunately, we are also seeing drink-driving combined with other fatal five behaviours in serious crashes,” he said.

“For example, 44 per cent of drink-drivers and riders involved in fatal crashes were also speeding.

“It is also concerning, a significant number of drink drivers and riders involved in fatal crashes had a high-range BAC, with over 45 per cent having a BAC of 0.15 or more.”

Those not wearing a seatbelt was another concerning trend among those killed on Queensland roads, with more than a quarter of lives lost where seatbelt use was a known factor.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey said drink-driving was identified in 23 per cent of deaths, an increase of nearly 20 per cent since the start of the pandemic.

“Similar to drink-driving, we are also seeing not wearing a seatbelt in combination with other dangerous behaviours,” Mr Bailey said.

“Unrestrained drivers or passengers were present in 45 per cent of fatal crashes involving speeding.”

On Tuesday morning, Mr Bailey will meet with representatives from the Queensland Police Service, RACQ, Safer Australian Roads and Highways Group, Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety Queensland, and other expert groups.