Queensland road safety campaign targets young male drivers as death toll soars

Young male drivers are being urged to think about the consequences of their actions before they get behind the wheel.

Young male drivers will be targeted this festive season as Queensland authorities try to reduce the state’s highest road toll in five years.

There have been 256 fatalities in 2020, 47 more than the same time in 2019.

It’s a jump of more 22 per cent and represents a more than 13 per cent increase on the five-year average.

The state government will roll out its “all good” campaign on Wednesday in a bid to reduce the number of young men killed in drink-driving-related road crashes.

The Department of Transport and Main Roads’ Andrew Mahon said it had to stop.

“Every year drink-driving is overrepresented in our road toll,” he said on Tuesday.

“We want friends, colleagues and family members to call our their friends, call out their colleagues, and make sure they do the right thing.”

The eight-year anniversary of Peter and Melissa McGuinness’ son Jordan’s death is December 8. Picture: Mark Cranitch.

Peter and Melissa McGuinness know all too well the impact drink-driving can have on families.

Their son Jordan was just 18 when he got behind the wheel of his car while under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

He crashed into a broken-down car on the M1, killing himself and the four occupants of his vehicle.

Ms McGuinness said she would never forget the day her son got her licence.

“He had worked hard, and he saved all of his money to buy his own car,” she said.

“We had no idea he was inadvertently driving around in his very own coffin.”

Ms McGuinness urged all road users to remember a car was a dangerous weapon.

“You are in control of the choices that you make,” she said.

Assistant Commissioner Ben Marcus said fatigue was also a big killer and urged families to take breaks as they travelled for the first time in months this Christmas.

Queensland Police Service Assistant Commissioner Ben Marcus said it was frustrating police had to keep reiterating the road rules.

“If everybody followed those rules, you simply wouldn’t crash your car,” he said.

“When you get behind the wheel, you are accepting the consequences good and bad of what you do.”

Mr McGuinness agreed.

“This level of road trauma is not necessary,” he said, adding poor choices should also not be seen as a romantic connection with youth.

“It’s not a part of life.”

The Queensland Police Service also kicked off its Christmas road safety campaign on Tuesday.

Assistant Commissioner Marcus said all available officers would be assigned to the cause from now until the end of January.

“We welcome anybody to dob in a hoon,” he said.

Originally published as Queensland road safety campaign targets young male drivers as death toll soars