We must keep road toll down

IT is promising to see the region’s road toll down — we have recorded nine road deaths since January 1 compared with 15 deaths in the same period last year.

But it is not time for North Queenslanders to fall asleep at the wheel and become complacent.

It is hard to predict why the region’s death toll has been so promising while the rest of the state has maintained a similar trend to 2019.

Road Policing Unit officer-in-charge Senior Sergeant Robbie Nalder labelled it a “fantastic” outcome.

The COVID-19 pandemic will have had a considerable impact on the numbers with a decrease in the number of vehicles on the road.

Traffic on the Bruce Highway had dropped off 37 per cent since the introduction of government restrictions.

But with more police on patrol and an increase in reports of speeding in recent weeks, it would appear it was also down to sheer dumb luck.

Speed is a telling factor when it comes to fatalities on the road.

And when one man is caught driving 40km/h over the speed limit twice in the same day, the only thing it tells of is an incredible level of stupidity.

Just because the tarmac ahead is empty does not mean it is time to push the accelerator pedal to the floor and shred rubber on the road.

The highway is not your personal Mount Panorama.

There is no legitimate excuse for exceeding the speed limit.

And to be more than 40km/h over it is just abhorrent.

Being half-an-hour late is better than being in the morgue.

With the Federal Government appearing likely to suggest further easing of restrictions at the end of this week, there will be an influx of cars on our roads.

It is time for drivers to be more vigilant. It is time to pay attention to the speedometer and it is time to be aware of everyone else around us on the roads.

We have done well to reduce the toll, now it is time to keep driving it down.