National Road Safety Week: Police make plea to curb state’s road toll
Police in North Queensland will be out in force doing roadside breath tests and high-visibility patrols as part of a crackdown on poor road behaviour to mark National Road Safety Week.
Townsville
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Police in North Queensland will be out in force doing roadside breath tests and high-visibility patrols as part of a crackdown on poor road behaviour to mark National Road Safety Week (May 15-22).
Highway police patrols will be out this week across Townsville, Ayr, Ingham and Charters Towers in a bid to rein in Queensland’s road roll after 299 people died last year – the most number of fatalities since 2009.
Highway Patrol Townsville’s officer in charge, Senior Sergeant Robert Nalder, said two lives had been lost on North Queensland roads so far this year, compared to five at the same time last year.
“Even one death is far too many,” he said.
“We can reduce it to zero, but we need the efforts of everybody involved.
“This is not just a police or government problem; this is a problem that the community must also wear by doing their part so we can reduce fatalities more and more as time goes on.”
The tight-knit fishing town of Cungulla was rocked by the tragic death of Kodi Tanerau-Love, 23, who died in a fiery crash near Cape Cleveland on April 10, only a few days before Townsville truck driver William Seaborn, 45, was killed when his truck rolled in Garbutt on April 15.
Sgt Nalder said responding to fatal traffic crashes could be very confronting and something police never really forget.
“We’re not Superman, we’re not made of steel,” he said.
“It does affect us. We have feelings as do the fire service and ambulance who get called out.
“It’s tragic, and it’s especially hard when we’re trying so hard to reduce the road toll as much as we possibly can.
“Then we see the needless death of someone through a mistake that should never of happened.
“It’s not an accident, it’s a crash, and we can stop that by people complying with road rules.
“It’s as simple as that.”
Queensland Police identify the fatal five – speeding, driving under the influence, seatbelts, fatigue and mobile phones or distraction – as the leading causes of death on the state’s roads.
Police will conduct road operations on May 14 and 24 to mark National Road Safety Week.
Officers across Townsville’s five stations will participate in a widespread blitz as part of phase two of Operation Metro 221 on May 24.
They conducted more than 700 RBTs during phase one of the operation on March 15.
It resulted in 10 traffic charges, 25 infringement notices and one 90-day immobilisation for disqualified driving.
Sgt Nalder said it came as a timely reminder for motorists to always comply with the road rules, especially going up and down the Bruce Highway and Flinders Highway with all those roads works under way.
“You see, people get annoyed with having to slow down to the reduced speed limit, but it’s for the safety of the road workers as well as the people in vehicles,” he said.
He’s also calling on motorists to take responsibility in driving timings to avoid fatigue.
“If you’re going to drive for extended periods, really plan out that trip and allow for a 20-30 minute break every two hours,” he said.
“Everyone thinks they can have something to eat, have (a) drink, and that’s it, but it’s more than that. The body needs to recover from that period of driving.”
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Originally published as National Road Safety Week: Police make plea to curb state’s road toll
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