Twelve lives have been lost on our roads since January 1, an increase of three on the same period last year.
In more than half of these crashes, it is the driver who did not return to their families.
Acting Chief Superintendent Ray Rohweder said while investigations were in their infancy, indications are that better decisions may have helped avoid the loss of life in most of the crashes.
“I was pleased with the positive attitudes on our roads over the holiday period but that has turned to disappointment quickly,” he said.
“We know, that for most of us, the most dangerous thing we’ll ever do is drive a car. They are powerful machines and they need to be respected.
“Every time you set out on our roads, imagine what it would feel like if you never saw your family, friends or colleagues again.
“Imagine their reaction if it was a police officer arriving at their door when they were expecting to see you.
“We all have a role to play in calling out bad decisions – whether you’re a driver, a passenger, friend, parent or a colleague.”
Police have issued more than 5,201 speeding fines, detected 338 drug drivers and 572 driving under the influence of alcohol since January 1.
Acting Chief Superintendent Rohweder said these numbers were unacceptable and showed motorists were still taking unacceptable risks on our road.
“We will continue to educate as well as undertake enforcement action and traffic operations to disrupt dangerous behaviours that contribute to the trauma on our roads.”
“The reality is, you can expect to see us anywhere at anytime because you may not know what a police car is and what is not,” he said.
RACQ Head of Public Policy Susan Furze said the majority of serious and fatal crashes were due to some element of human error.
“We remind all road users about the dangers of the Fatal Five, because we know these are the leading causes of crashes which either kill motorists or cause serious, often irreversible, injuries,” Ms Furze said.
“Our surveys reveal one quarter of respondents have knowingly driven while tired, one in six admit to using their mobile phone behind the wheel and more than half say they’ve accidentally driven over the speed limit.
“We don’t know how many more times we can say it – please don’t speed, don’t be distracted, don’t drive tired or have been drinking, and please wear a seatbelt. We don’t just want fewer deaths on our roads – we want the road toll to be zero.”
Of all fatalities since January 1: seven were drivers, three were passengers, one was a pedestrian; and one was a motorcyclist.
During the same period, around 570 people have been injured in crashes on Queensland roads.
Acting Chief Superintendent Rohweder encouraged drivers to show the same positive behaviours that were shown over the holiday period.
“A safer drive ultimately starts with you and the decisions you make.”
