Police presence expected to be high across the Western Downs for Road Safety Week

Western Downs police say they will be targeting bad driver behaviour for this year’s Road Safety Week, in what has been a devastating year for road deaths on the Western Downs.

Police will be out in force across the Western Downs as part of Road Safety Week. Picture: Natasha Emeck

Western Downs police will be out in force for the statewide Road Safety Week, urging motorists to take care in what has been a horror year on our roads.

Road Safety Week runs annually between August 26-30, with the theme of this year’s initiative being One Team, encouraging the public and police to work together to curb road related trauma.

It has been a devastating year on Western Downs roads with a number of road fatalities leaving communities in mourning.

On March 8 an 84-year-old man was killed and an elderly woman injured after a horror crash on the Warrego Highway near Gatton.

Police said a Toyota Corolla was travelling along the highway when it left the road and rolled at Ringwood.

The driver, a 69-year-old Rangeville woman, was taken to Toowoomba Hospital with serious injuries while the passenger in the vehicle, an 84-year-old Rangeville man, was declared deceased at the scene.

Two LifeFlight rescue helicopters were tasked to a multi-vehicle fatal incident on a stretch of highway in the Western Downs region on April 18, 2024. Photo: LifeFlight.

In April Miles’ Kellie Holland, 41, and 25-year-old Chinchilla business owner Jack Holt tragically lost their lives in a crash on the Warrego Highway near Drillham.

The driver of the vehicle containing Ms Holland was charged with dangerous driving causing death while adversely affected by an intoxicating substance after he allegedly veered onto the wrong side of the wrong colliding with the vehicle in which Mr holt was a passenger.

Just two months later a horror crash north of Dalby took the lives of a father and his two children while their mother sustained serious injuries and was in a coma for several days.

Data from the Department of Transport and Main Roads has revealed there have been six deaths as a result of crashes along the Warrego Highway up until August this year, compared to 10 for the entirety of 2023.

Seven people died in crashes on the Warrego Highway in 2022, four in 2021, seven in 2020, six in 2019 and seven in 2018.

A TMR spokesperson said speeding was one of the risky behaviours police will be targeting during road safety week.

“As one of the Fatal Five behaviours, speeding is one of the major killers on Queensland roads, with an average of 74 people losing their lives and 409 seriously injured in speed-related crashes each year,” they said.

“The Queensland government has launched a new, hard-hitting campaign, No excuse for speeding, which demonstrates the very real dangers of speeding against the frivolous excuses given for this reckless behaviour.

“The campaign shows the realistic consequences of speeding, including that one in three of those killed in a speed-related crash are not the driver.

“The fatal five continue to contribute to more than 50 per cent of lives lost on our roads each year.

“Through a range of practical actions, the Queensland Government is working hard to reduce road trauma, as every life lost is a tragedy.”

Senior Constable Dan O’Hara said police would be on the lookout for anyone breaching road rules in an effort to protect the community.

“There will be a lot of high profile patrols involving random breath testing, random drug testing, speed cameras and mobile radars,” he said.

“Our biggest problem at the moment is people using mobile phones, that’s a major concern. If you're caught using your phone (the fine) is the same price as a seatbelt ticket, more than $1000.

“You can't be driving to full capacity if you're fiddling with your phone.”

Dalby District crime prevention co-ordinator Senior Constable Dan O'Hara. Picture: Sam Turner

Senior Constable O’Hara said police would also be targeting the fatal five, the leading causes of death on the roads.

“The Fatal Five are speed, drink and drug driving, fatigue, failing to wear a seatbelt and driving while distracted,” he said.

“Keep an eye on your speed, don’t even consider drink driving because the odds of being pulled up for and RBT are very high, make sure you wear your seatbelt, and on long trips make sure you stop every two hours and physically get out of the vehicle and walk around, do not drive while tired.”

Senior Constable O’Hara said police would also be hosting Coffee With a Cop on August 2 in Chinchilla and Wandoan, August 29 in Dalby and August 30 in Jandowae.

“At Moonie crossroads on Monday there will be a major traffic operation involving TMR, Tara police and police front outlying areas.” he said.

“There will be vehicle checks conducted and TMR and police will provide information in relation to towing of caravans and trailers and the correct loading procedures.

“We will also run the Coffee with a Cop initiative for people to stop and have a coffee with police.

“Police find the Coffee with a Cop concept great because people feel at ease and can come in at their leisure to enjoy a coffee and informal chat with local police.

“Police will also visit schools and provide information to schoolchildren.”

Senior Constable O’Hara urged people to consider the long term implications of dangerous driving.

“Road related trauma lasts a lot longer in the community then people think,” he said.

“People think they see the headlines in the paper then it's quickly forgotten but it is very real for the families, friends, police and other responders and it can stay with them for years and has a long time effect in the community emotionally and financially.”

Originally published as Police presence expected to be high across the Western Downs for Road Safety Week