Emergency services united in calls to stop Christmas road carnage

POLICE, paramedics and firefighters are urging motorists to slow down, follow the road rules and get to their destination safely as we head into the Christmas holidays.

FOUR of the last six people to die in traffic crashes in our region could have survived if they had been wearing a seat belt.

It’s a sad and sobering statistic that underlines the need for common sense as we take to the roads over the Christmas holiday period.

Yesterday, paramedics, police and firefighters were united in their effort to save lives as they launched Operation Sierra Noella – the 2020 Christmas holiday road safety campaign.

“December is a very busy time of year for everyone with so many travelling, so it is an important time to focus on road safety,” acting inspector Jason Hopgood said.

“It is the end of school and university, it is a time to catch up with friends and family, but December is not the time for your driving skills to go on holiday.”

Launching the Queensland Police Service’s Christmas road safety campaign Operation Sierra Noella are (from left) QFES Acting Chief Superintendent Bernard Nunn, QAS Superintendent, Executive Manager Operations Glen Maule and QPS Acting Inspector Jason Hopgood. Picture: Nev Madsen

The campaign will see extra police on the road conducting more random breath tests, speed traps and licence checks.

Insp Hopgood said the operation was designed to save lives.

“Last December, we had three people die in crashes in the Darling Downs,” he said.

Statewide, the road toll has spiked with 257 people dying since the start of the year, up 48 from 2019.

“That is 257 people who are someone’s son, daughter, brother or sister, mother or father, who will not be coming home this Christmas,” Insp Hopgood said.

The road death toll is at its highest this year for five years.

“We hope it is an anomaly,” Insp Hopgood said.