‘Tragic milestone’: Tasmania records horror 16-year high road toll for single month

A shocking number of road deaths occurred across Tasmania in April, in what was the highest road toll recorded in a single month since July 2009.

Tasmania hit double-digit road deaths in April, the first time such figures have been recorded since July 2009.

April was the single deadliest month on Tasmania’s roads in more than 15 years – a statistic described as a “tragic milestone” by Road Safety Advisory Council chair Scott Tilyard.

Eleven people died and 10 were seriously injured as a result of crashes last month, bringing the total number of road fatalities to 20 for the year to date.

It was the first time since July 2009 that Tasmania recorded double-digit road deaths in a single month.

Road Safety Advisory Council chair Scott Tilyard. Picture: Linda Higginson

In that month 16 years ago, 13 lives were lost and a total of 63 people ended up being killed on the state’s roads that calendar year.

Mr Tilyard said it was “easy to gloss over the statistics” but urged people to take heed of the horror numbers.

“In April alone, two people were killed in the North-West region, four people were killed in the North and five were killed in the South. These people were aged between 13 and 86. Nine of those killed were male and two were female,” he said.

“Eleven fatalities in one month is a tragic milestone that we do not want to reach and a powerful reminder that we cannot afford to become complacent.”

Tasmania Police conducted Operation Safe Arrival over the Easter period, undertaking 7596 random alcohol tests and 135 drug tests, which detected 27 drink driving offences and 47 positive drug tests.

Furthermore, 591 people were caught speeding, 21 fines were handed out for illegal mobile phone use while driving, and 12 offences were detected for improper seatbelt use.

Tasmania Police Road Safety Coordinator Inspector Justin Lawson said similar results were seen during a Christmas road operation.

“These behaviours not only put people’s own lives at risk – they endanger everyone else on the road,” he said.

Tasmania Police Road Safety Coordinator Inspector Justin Lawson. Picture: Simon McGuire.

“Follow the road rules, drive to the conditions and don’t hesitate to call out unsafe driving or report dangerous behaviour – we all have a role to play in keeping our roads safe.”

Mr Tilyard said even the best road safety measures and design interventions only worked if every road user “makes safe and responsible choices”.

“We’re still seeing too many road users, across all age groups and experience levels make bad choices,” he said.

“Every risky decision – speeding, even if it’s only a few kilometres over the limit or driving too fast for the conditions, driving impaired, using a phone, not wearing a seatbelt or driving tired – undermines a safe system and not only puts lives at risk but continues to claim lives on our roads.”

Originally published as ‘Tragic milestone’: Tasmania records horror 16-year high road toll for single month