Revealed: Deadliest Queensland electorates for 2022

New data has revealed Queensland’s most dangerous electorates for fatal crashes, as police issue a warning about the “deadliest” time to be driving.

New data has revealed Queensland’s most dangerous electorates for fatal crashes, as police warn July to September is the “deadliest” time to be driving on the state’s roads.

Assistant Commissioner Ben Marcus said although there has been a “general decline” in the number of people killed on Queensland roads, recent extreme weather has undoubtedly had an impact on the number of fatalities which currently stands at 210 compared to 194 this time last year.

It comes as new data from RACQ has revealed the 10 worst electorates for fatal crashes are in regional Queensland.

The data showed that between January 1 and July 31 Nanango had recorded 13 road deaths followed by Mirani (10), Burdekin (9) and Condamine (7).

RACQ Traffic and Safety Engineering Manager Gregory Miszkowycz said far too many people were losing their lives on regional roads.

“Unfortunately, Queensland is on track to record its worst road toll in a decade,” Mr Miszkowycz said.

Mr Marcus said between 2012 and 2021, July to September has “consistently” been the highest quarter for road fatalities.

Over that nine year period, July to September accounted for 27.4 per cent of all road fatalities followed by October to December (25.2 per cent), April to June (24.7 per cent) and January to March (22.8 per cent).

“(Motorists) are five per cent more likely to have a fatal crash in this quarter than that really busy post-Christmas, back to school time of year,” Mr Marcus said. 

Assistant Commissioner Ben Marcus. Picture: Liam Kidston.

Mr Marcus said a possible explanation is that spring is often viewed as the best “driving holiday weather” with “a lot more people driving greater distances on unfamiliar roads”.

But with an increasing number of motorists driving through flood waters, Mr Marcus said this year’s death toll is likely to reach 300 by the end of the year.

Mr Miszkowycz said the “increasing number of fatalities on regional roads is incredibly concerning and is partly due to these roads being high speed and often lacking safe design features that can prevent a crash or reduce the severity of injury if one does happen”.

“We need roads widened, wider centre-lines with median safety barriers, clear roadsides and safety barriers installed, protected turn lanes at intersections as well as more overtaking lanes and rest areas,” he said.

“But as drivers we also need to take responsibility every time we get behind the wheel by making sure we’re not driving tired, distracted, under the influence of drugs or alcohol, speeding or without a seatbelt.”

Mr Marcus reminded Queensland motorists that even though July to September seems to be a “benign period of the year, statistically it’s the most dangerous”.

“Coming into spring the sun also rises earlier,” he said.

“Drivers really struggle in twilight – when your eyes and your headlights aren’t as effective.”

He said Covid has changed the way Queenslanders “commute” and “spend their disposable income”.

“If the cost of living continues to rise then so will the cost of petrol resulting in more people choosing cheaper modes of transport and making road users more vulnerable,” he said.

Ahead of another wet summer, Mr Marcus reminded Queenslanders that if it’s flooded, forget it.

Originally published as Revealed: Deadliest Queensland electorates for 2022