Road deaths for first three months of 2022 already more than double last year’s rate

Road fatalities for 2022 so far have catapulted ahead of figures from this time last year as authorities scramble to curb the horrific figures.

Road fatalities for 2022 so far have catapulted ahead of figures from this time last year.

By the end of March 2021, four people had lost their lives on Tasmanian roads since the beginning of that year.

But as of March 14 this year, Tasmania has already recorded nine road deaths since the start of 2022.

The latest deaths happened in quick succession, with a 62-year-old woman dying last Tuesday on the intersection of Cutts and Forth Rd at Don while she was a passenger in a Mazda.

Just days later on Friday, two men aged 20 and 27 were killed in a single vehicle rollover on Seabrook Rd, Somerset.

Floral tributes and vehicle detritus at the scene of the double fatal rollover at Somerset, March 11, 2022. Picture: Alex Treacy.

RACT Chief Advocacy Officer Garry Bailey said positive changes were shining a light on motorist behaviour, but more needed to be done.

“We have the worst road safety record of any state but there’s no reason that we can’t be a leader in Australia,” he said.

“It’s clear from police activity that they’re increasing their enforcement, and that is a good thing.

“The regular blitzes they’ve had are a shocking indictment of Tasmanian drivers.

“They’re continuing to drive after drinking, after taking drugs. There are still drivers going a considerable speed beyond the speed limits.”

But ultimately, the responsibility for road safety rested on the shoulders of motorists.

Mr Bailey hoped the outcome of a state Upper House Road Safety Inquiry would hand down “critical” recommendations to help drivers and politicians make necessary improvements.

Floral tributes and vehicle detritus at the scene of the double fatal rollover at Somerset, March 11, 2022. Picture: Alex Treacy.

He said RACT made 38 recommendations to the inquiry, including to bolster camera monitoring across the state.

“The government, to its credit, is rolling out eight (speed) cameras in the next few months and we want to see another eight after that,” Mr Bailey said.

He hoped the report would be released in time for the government to implement state budget initiatives this May.

Tasmania Police sergeant Andrew Hanson said the busy long weekend was the perfect time for police to clamp down on irresponsible driver behaviour statewide.

“Obviously we’re looking at the speeding offences, making sure people are wearing their seatbelts,” he said.

Sergeant Hanson said most people did the right thing, some 17 people had been detected drink driving in the Launceston CBD over the long weekend.