December proves to be deadliest month

THE 2018 road toll climbed by three from the 22 traffic deaths in 2017, which was a drop from the 27 the year before.

Maddison Spyve, 18, Michael Bowden, 20, Harley Amos, 18, Wayne Garde, 40 and Chris Kurz, 62 were among the 25 people killed on Far North roads in 2018.

December was the most deadly month for the Far North with five people killed in five crashes.

The figures do not include fatalities that were the result of suicide or a medical episode.

Cairns Forensic Crash Unit officer in charge Sergeant Scott Ezard has the job of investigating these incidents.

“We’ve been fairly consistent regardless of what campaigns and strategies have been put in place,” Cairns Forensic Crash Unit officer in charge Sgt Ezard said.

“A lot of it is coming down to the direct actions of those involved.”

In his 10 years in crash investigations in the Far North, Sgt Ezard said he had never “had a period of time where I haven’t had to investigate someone’s death”.

The fatal five, which are speeding, driving under the influence, fatigue, distraction and not wearing a seatbelt, continue to play a role in the number of injury and fatal crashes across the Far North.

“It takes an individual to stand up and say I’m going to do the right thing and unfortunately in 2018 that wasn’t the case in 25 cases,” Sgt Ezard said.

“We now have families that have lost loved ones and some of those are in horrific circumstances.”

WE NOW HAVE FAMILIES THAT HAVE LOST LOVED ONES AND SOME OF THOSE ARE IN HORRIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES. SERGEANT SCOTT EZARD