Road safety roundtable called after 299 deaths in Qld in 2022

A spike in motorcyclist deaths after more cashed-up Queenslanders bought motorbikes in the first year of Covid is a factor in the state recording its worst road toll since 2009.

The Palaszczuk government will convene a roundtable of road safety experts and stakeholders to find ways to reduce the number of deaths on Queensland roads following a surge in fatalities.

There were 299 road deaths recorded in Queensland in 2022 – making it the most fatalities in the Sunshine State since 2009, when there were 331 lives lost on the roads.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey said a “reset” of road safety policy was needed in Queensland as he announced plans to hold talks with experts to develop new reforms.

Mr Bailey conceded new measures, such as increased fines and new cameras that catch out drivers using their phones, had “clearly” not had the impact authorities were hoping for in 2022.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey. Picture: Richard Walker

“We’ve got to be looking at 2023 with fresh eyes,” he said.

“Every Queenslander wants our roads to be safer.

“We want to come back here in a year’s time and say we’ve had a much, much better year and a much safer year for Queenslanders.”

The latest data from Transport and Main Roads shows that of the 200 fatalities recorded in the year to August 31, 57 of those deaths had involved speeding.

This was followed by 44 deaths involving drink drivers, 37 deaths involving drug drivers, 26 fatalities where fatigue was a factor, and 21 fatalities involving distracted and inattentive drivers.

Queensland Police, the RACQ, and QUT’s Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety-Queensland will be among the stakeholder groups attending the roundtable, which will be held later this month.

A Queensland emergency services video about lives lost on the state’s roads.

Mr Bailey said “everything” would be on the table.

“There’s a responsibility on every driver every time they drive to make safe choices,” he said.

“There’s also a responsibility of government to be very aware and to respond from a policy point of view when things don’t go the way we want them to go.”

Mr Bailey said there had been a significant spike in motorcyclist deaths following a jump in motorbike purchases in the first year of the pandemic when Queenslanders had more discretionary income.

“We’ve also got to get that drink-driving message across,” he said.

“The pandemic has been a really difficult time for a lot of people.

“What this is telling me is some people are responding in not a very functional way and making poor choices.”