Highways focus for police after deaths
the winter school holidays approach, families will start planning trips to visit loved ones and catch up with mates.
But sadly, this flurry of travel traditionally leads to a spike in fatal and serious traffic crashes.
This year police are hoping to get ahead of the tragedies by rolling out a high-visibility road safety campaign across the Darling Downs, South West Queensland and Lockyer Valley.
QPS Southern Region Assistant Commissioner Charysse Pond said officers from each district’s Highway Patrol and Crime Prevention units would conduct targeted and high visibility patrols and community engagement on highways and roads.
“This is the time that people start travelling, and we want them to reach their destination safely,” she said.
The operation was about more than just writing tickets.
Ms Pond said she wanted police to talk to motorists about the decisions they made while behind the wheel.
There will be special attention given to motorcyclists and caravaners as they are increasingly over-represented in the crash statistics.
“While the police are travelling around they will go into schools, stop and talk to people about vehicle roadworthies, seatbelts and safety.”
In 2022, 59 people lost their lives on roads in the QPS Southern Region, which takes in Toowoomba, Ipswich and the southwest. That is the highest number of lives lost since 2013.
In the past two weeks, four people have died on our roads.
On Saturday, a man died after his sedan hit a tree at Karara, while on Wednesday, a 56-year-old woman was crossing Hursley Rd when she was struck by two vehicles and died instantly.
Four days earlier, a 24-yearold Toowoomba motorcyclist died when he collided with a Toyota LandCruiser at Ravensbourne, while on May 18 a man in his 60s fell in front of a truck at 2am on James St.
“We know that 38 per cent of those incidents were drink or drug driving related,” Act-As ing Inspector Craig Berry said.
“That means the driver has chosen to get behind the wheel while adversely affected, and this has resulted in someone losing their life.
“Each person killed is more than just a number, 59 families and their loved ones will be impacted forever.
“This operation is one piece of the puzzle, but we need motorists to work with us, to ensure everyone on our roads gets home safely. Expect to see police anywhere, anytime.”
The operation runs until Friday.