More Queenslanders admit to drink-driving, speeding, using mobile phone

Speeding, eating, using their mobile phone – these are the road rules Queenslanders admit they blatantly ignore. VOTE IN OUR POLL

New data has revealed Queensland motorists are blatantly ignoring road rules with more drivers engaging in the Fatal 5 behaviours in the past 12 months.

RACQ’s Annual Road Safety Survey found nearly three quarters (74.3 per cent) of motorists are speeding, driving while tired (41.2 per cent) or over the blood alcohol limit (13.3 per cent).

The survey also revealed more Queensland motorists are adjusting their stereos (83.1 per cent), drinking/eating (74.1 per cent) or using their handheld mobile phone (31.6 per cent), all while driving.

RACQ manager road safety and technical Joel Tucker said it was concerning to see so many Queensland motorists engaging in the Fatal 5 behaviours.

“It is particularly worrying to see a seven per cent increase in the number of people admitting to driving tired and experiencing difficulty staying awake, compared to the year before,” he said.

“With so much going on in our lives it’s easy to be distracted while driving but getting safely to the destination must be our main objective.

“It’s so important to avoid doing anything that takes your eyes off the road, hands off the wheel or mind off the critical task of driving.”

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said this data showed that Queensland still had a long way to go in reducing driver distraction, “which remains one of the biggest killers on our roads”.

“It’s encouraging that people are getting the message that if you’re using your phone illegally behind the wheel you can get caught anywhere, anytime, but we still have a long way to go,” he said.

“I won’t be happy until the number of people caught by our hi-tech cameras is zero.

“When you’re distracted behind the wheel it’s not just your life you’re putting on the line – it’s the lives of your passengers, people in the vehicles around you and pedestrians.

Mr Bailey urged Queensland drivers to follow “longstanding, lifesaving rules”.

“Not wearing a seatbelt, driving passengers without a seatbelt and using your phone illegally behind the wheel all carry fines of over $1000 and four demerit points, and doubles if you’re caught a second time in 12 months,” he said.

More than 30 per cent of Queenslanders admit to using their mobile phone while driving.

“You could lose more than just your licence – for some people it may mean you’ve lost your job, just by sending a text.

The RACQ survey also showed younger age groups most commonly self-report dangerous driving behaviours.

“We really appreciate Queenslanders’ honesty in providing their answers to our surveys, it’s incredibly important to help us advocate for solutions to improve road safety,” Mr Tucker said.

“The results give us an opportunity to target our advice on these topics to specific age groups to help save lives on Queensland roads.”