Road Safety Week: Roma Police are spreading awareness and are out in force

The Warrego region was ranked in the top 10 dangerous regions for road deaths and Roma’s top cop reminds drivers to be safe and vigilant, with officers out in force and operating under a “zero-tolerance policy”.

Police across the southwest are driving home messages of road safety in a bid to reduce accidents around the region.

During road safety week, recognised from August 16-20, officers like Roma officer in charge Duane Frank were out spreading awareness and reminding drivers to travel safe not just this week, but every time they get behind the wheel.

“Police across our towns are out enforcing and educating drivers this week as part of the statewide initiative,” he said.

“Various local officers and the road policing units will be out and about conducting static and mobile RBT sites.

“Police have a zero-tolerance policy.”

Sergeant Frank said in particular, Roma drivers must be more conscious when travelling through school zones and pedestrian crossings.

“During school times, it is a 40km per hour so people must slow down and be aware of children and families out and about,” he said.

“We are fortunate to have supervisors located at the school crossings who do a fantastic job.

“But drivers need to be more aware and vigilant as small children don’t have road sense and cannot judge distances.”

Recently, the Warrego region was ranked 10th in RACQ’s top 10 dangerous regions for road deaths.

Statistics revealed the region, that encompasses local councils such as Maranoa and Western Downs, had lost five lives from January to July, almost half of Callide’s road death toll.

Member for Warrego Ann Leahy said the region’s roads were “unforgiving” due to their poor conditions.

“Our roads need constant maintenance and safety upgrades, we just have to do more to fix our roads,” Ms Leahy said.

“We can do all the education campaigns we want, but if we don’t fix the roads at the same time, we are going to keep killing people.”

In its seventh year, Road Safety Week enabled our officers in every community to discuss the Fatal Five – seatbelts, speeding, drink/drug driving, fatigue and distraction.