Queensland road toll: Police shocked at 2017 road deaths
FRUSTRATED police continue to be shocked by the waste of life on Queensland roads after the 2017 toll was nearly a carbon copy of the previous year. They say the messages aren’t getting through.
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FRUSTRATED police continue to be shocked by the waste of life on Queensland roads after the 2017 toll was nearly a carbon copy of the previous year.
And it took less than two hours for the first fatality of 2018 to be recorded.
The 2017 preliminary road toll stood at 248 yesterday, but police warned that the final figure could rise as several victims of December smashes remained “seriously ill” in hospital.
Despite repeated campaigns and crackdowns on dangerous driving, the 2017 toll was only three less than the previous year, leaving police and transport authorities shocked at the prevalence of stupid, reckless and irresponsible drivers.
Nearly two-thirds of the fatalities in 2017 had speed, drink driving or fatigue as contributing factors, according to Transport Department figures.
Road Policing Command Assistant Commissioner Mike Keating said shaving a few numbers off the road toll was not a good result. “That’s not OK,” he said.
“That’s 240-odd people who passed away because of poor decisions by somebody, and generally that’s the cause of most traffic accidents. It’s a poor decision, a reckless decision, and an irresponsible decision by somebody.”
The 2017 road carnage began when a Cairns mother was allegedly run over by her son outside her house after a domestic dispute.
Amelie Ura Tapaki’s name was entered at the top of what would become a long list, while her son sat in custody charged with dangerous driving causing death and unlicensed driving.
In his first court appearance, he asked for a few hours’ freedom to attend his mother’s funeral.
In February, Sarah Mitchell, 21, was driving her boyfriend, Jordan Whittle, home from his 21st birthday party when the car they were in smashed into a power pole at 3.30am, hurling the mangled engine 30m clear of the wreckage in Deception Bay, north of Brisbane. The couple both died.
During the Easter long weekend, Sarah Walker, 30, and brother Daniel, 22, were driving back to Brisbane after visiting family in Bundaberg when a car crossed onto the wrong side of the road and smashed into them.
Ms Walker’s 14-year-old son survived the fiery crash.
Hervey Bay lawyer Donald George Gayler, who was driving the car that smashed into the Walkers, was fined $3000 and disqualified from driving for three months.
In October, a father was the first person to arrive at a crash involving his wife and two of his children in Sarina, near Mackay. He found the car upturned in a creek with his dead 13-year-old son inside.
And on Christmas Day, talented Brisbane tenpin bowler Makayla Tritton, 19, and her mother Karin, 56, died in a horrific crash in Manly West, on Brisbane’s bayside.
An out-of-control BMW slammed into their family sedan as they went to visit relatives for Christmas lunch. Makayla’s father and sister were also injured in the crash.
A drug pipe that was still warm was found in the BMW and the driver, Mark Veneris, 46, has been charged with one count each of dangerous operation of vehicle causing death and dangerous operation of a vehicle causing grievous bodily harm.
Results of blood tests from Mr Veneris have not been completed.
Police Minister Mark Ryan said any road death was one too many as each fatality created a tragic backstory.
“This year, far too many people have lost their lives on our roads,” he said. “The impact of these road tragedies on families and communities is enormous.”
Holiday periods were particularly horrific this year, despite police being out in force and targeting high-risk driving behaviour.
The mid-year school holiday period was the third worst on record, with 21 deaths recorded during the two weeks.
The Christmas and Easter road safety campaigns were blotted by increased fatalities, drivers with blood-alcohol levels well above .2, and reckless displays of extreme speed, including hoons clocking speeds faster than 200km/h.
The Easter toll was particularly stark, with eight fatalities. The previous year, Queensland recorded its first fatality-free Easter in 20 years.
Six deaths have already been recorded during the Christmas Road Safety Campaign, which was double the number of fatalities last year.
Transport Minister Mark Bailey urged drivers to show more patience on the roads, especially during the chaotic holiday season.
“Crashes are preventable – there is no need for deaths or serious injuries on our roads, and we can all do our bit to stop them by abiding by the rules and driving to conditions,” he said.
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