Alarming stats: Qld road deaths spiked but rest of Australia dipped during lockdown

Queensland’s roads were the deadliest in Australia during lockdown, despite fewer motorists, a new report reveals.

Queensland had Australia’s deadliest roads during the peak of the pandemic and was the only jurisdiction to record more road fatalities, new data shows.

Australian Road and Research Board (ARRB) figures reveal there was a 10 per cent decrease in the number of road deaths, nationally, between March and August compared to the average number of fatalities for the same period between 2017 and 2019.

Alarmingly, every state and territory except Queensland recorded fewer deaths in 2020 compared to the average number of fatalities over the previous three years.

There were 123 road fatalities in Queensland during March and August, up 11 per cent.

A graph shows Queensland roads were the deadliest during COVID lockdown. Picture: Supplied

The rest of the nation recorded between 10 and 25 per cent fewer deaths.

Year-on-year, Queensland’s road toll of 232 has already passed the 217 recorded in 2019, which was the lowest in 50 years.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Road Crashes in Australia report was commissioned on behalf of the Australia and New Zealand Driverless Vehicle Initiative (ADVI).

It showed road deaths were highly unpredictable and not directly related to the number of road users, ADVI spokeswoman Rita Excell said.

ADVI spokeswoman Rita Excell says fewer drivers, sadly, does not mean fewer road fatalities. Picture: Supplied

Australian roads had up to 30 per cent fewer drivers during the peak of the pandemic but the number of deaths had only dipped 10 per cent, she noted.

“We thought the reduction in traffic volumes would have a direct impact on the number of fatal crashes and that didn't occur,” she said.

“It reinforces crashes are unpredictable and not directly related to the number of cars on the roads.”

Overall, the report found fatalities among drivers, passengers, pedestrians and motorcycle riders across Australia decreased by between five and 20 per cent, yet cyclist deaths increased by 29 per cent.

Queensland motoring lobby group RACQ said the statistics were disturbing.

RACQ representative Lauren Ritchie said more road users were on Queensland’s roads when the lockdown was eased but the borders were closed. Picture: Supplied

RACQ representative Lauren Ritchie pointed out many more Queenslanders were on the road during the months of the pandemic as the state’s borders were closed and residents were taking more trips within the state.

“This is incredibly worrying to have been the only state in the country, between March and August, to have seen an increase in the amount of people killed on our roads,” Ms Ritchie said.

“These are not simply numbers on a page but are people with families and loved ones who are no longer with us.

“Many Queenslanders, we suspect, have been out exploring their own state due to the travel restrictions, which in turn has likely seen people driving further distances than they’re used to.”

Transport Minister Mark Bailey says these statistics need hit home and drivers and passengers need to be more safety conscious. . Picture: Stewart McLean

ARRB said they used a three-year mean for road fatalities as it provided a truer picture than year-on-year, especially after Queensland had its lowest death toll in 50 years.

Queensland Transport Minister Mark Bailey, who earlier this year introduced $1000 fines for anyone caught handling a mobile phone while driving, said drivers had to be more diligent and passengers more safety conscious.

“That means putting down the phone, buckling up, not speeding, not driving when sleepy and not driving when drunk,” he said.

“In just the few months that our mobile detection cameras have been running, already close to 10,000 people have been snapped using their phone plus another 1722 people not wearing their seatbelt – decades after they were introduced.

“Queensland has been uncompromising and tough on driver distraction with $1000 fines now being copied by other jurisdictions and plans to roll out many mobile phone distraction and non-seatbelt compliance cameras across our state in 2021.”

National Road Safety Week will be launched on Sunday.