Police, crash survivors raise awareness ahead of road safety week

A Roma district forensic crash investigator shares what it’s like to see the devastating consequences of poor driver behaviour every day, while a Roma Paralympian shares how his life changed in a split second, as Queensland cruises into road safety week.

Roma police have staged a traffic crash to raise awareness during road safety week.

In just under nine months, 188 lives have been lost on Queensland’s roads.

The southwest district, made up of a patchwork of small communities, has contributed six deaths to the statewide tally.

Each one of those deaths is a lost family member, friend, or loved one, whose absence will be felt in all corners of the community.

The devastation caused by traffic crashes, particularly when they are fatal, is known all too well by Sergeant Sebastian Pollock, who is the forensic crash co-ordinator in the South West district.

Coffee with a cop in Roma at Beck’s chopping board on August 26. Left to right: Sergeant Daniel Clarke, Lily Xu, Sergeant Dion Horn.

“Every fatal crash we attend as investigators tends to leave its mark,” Sergeant Pollock said.

“At the end of the day, there is nothing worse than knowing that someone has just lost a loved one because of someone’s bad decision.

“If only we could get through to most motorists just how quickly their world or someone else’s could be turned upside down in an instant, just because of a poor driving choice.

“Every fatality means that someone has lost a cherished part of their family, but when that loss involves children the grief for everyone is unfortunately on a whole other level.”

In his 26 years as a traffic crash investigator, Sergeant Pollock said the main thing that’s changed is “people’s attitudes towards each other”.

Coffee with a cop in Surat on August 27, with Sergeant Mark Perske.

He said this is particularly important for motorbike riders.

“As we’ve seen with so many of our motorcycle crashes, attitude is everything,” Sergeant Pollock said.

Despite making up only 5 per cent of vehicles on the road, 27 per cent of road fatalities are motorbike riders.

“Having the right attitude towards known risks on the road, as well as towards other motorists, is the best starting point for survival and ultimately getting home to your family in one piece,” Sergeant Pollock said.

“Impatient riders often take extra risks such as speeding and unsafe overtaking, which lessens their ability to react to the additional hazards that come with being on two wheels instead of four.”

Staged crash in Roma, using a Subaru Impreza with was recently involved in a collision with a train.

He said it’s important for other road users to understand that motorbikes can accelerate quicker than a car, are less visible, and can’t always stop as quickly.

A Roma resident who knows all too well the devastating consequences a crash can have is Darren Thrupp.

Gold medal-winning Paralympian Darren Thrupp has reflected a lot on the crash in 1985 that gave him cerebral palsy-like symptoms.

In 1985, he was involved in a crash which claimed his best mate’s life, and left him with a permanent disability.

“Things can change in the blink of an eye,” he said.

While Mr Thrupp has gone on to win multiple Paralympic medals and world championships, he said “complacency” is a major issue for motorists.

“Never take your eye off the ball,” he said.

“You’ve always got to be so diligent.”

As the state cruises into road safety week, the Roma patrol group is pulling out all the stops to raise awareness about road safety in the region.

District crime prevention co-ordinator, Sergeant Daniel Clarke, said Roma police set up a staged crash display on the truck pad on the east side of Roma.

The crash is designed to catch motorists’ attention, with electronic signs to display road safety messages.

Road safety messages on display in Roma.

One of the cars to be used in the staged crash was a Subaru Impreza which was recently involved in a collision with a train. 

Sergeant Clarke said road safety week would mean high-visibility policing and enforcement, as well as coffee with a cop sessions in each division.

In Roma, motorists are encouraged to visit Bec’s Chopping Board during road safety week, to chat with Sergeant Clarke and Senior Constable Karlee Longworth about road safety.