Call for action as local road toll climbs

More people have died on roads in the Moreton Police District this year than at the same time last year, with the toll now at 15, up from 9 in 2024.

Acting Chief Superintendent Ben Fadian says there are commonalities in all of them and it’s time to act, this Road Safety Week.

“Sadly, the factors are the same as last year. It is the Fatal Five – speeding, distraction, drink and drug driving, driving while fatigued, and people not wearing their seatbelts,” Acting Chief Supt Fadian explains.

“Those themes we saw last year are similar themes we’re seeing this year.”

The Fatal Five campaign has been a key part of road safety messaging for several years, but drivers are still committing offences which lead to serious and fatal crashes.

“It’s constant education, reinforcement and an enforcement approach as well. We try to educate the public. We’d much rather prevent these offences, and injury and fatal traffic accidents, occurring in the first place,” Acting Chief Supt Fadian says.

“Those people who do want to engage in drink and drug driving, not wearing their seatbelts, we will have to take enforcement action.”

Acting Chief Supt Fadian says road safety is everyone’s responsibility.

“If people do their individual thing, that will contribute overall to the effort to collectively reduce the road toll,” he explains.

“Take just a moment to look at what they’re doing ... what they’re going to do before they drive and think about what they’re going to do ... make a conscious effort to stick to the speed limit, wear seatbelts, don’t drive while fatigued, don’t drink and drug drive.

“We see consistently, in those fatal and serious traffic accidents, life-changing injuries people sustain. There’s spinal damage, traumatic brain injuries, amputations ... for the people involved, they’re life-changing injuries, life-changing events.

“For the officers involved, there’s frustration that overwhelmingly, most times these incidents are preventable.”

Ripple effect

And the impact of a serious or fatal crash is far-reaching.

“It’s a ripple effect. You have people who die as a result of a traffic crash ... all the people they know, all the people they’re related to ... they’re all affected by it,” Acting Chief Supt Fadian says.

“At the same time, if they suffer things like spinal injuries or traumatic brain injuries, their family members and friends are affected also. There’s a level of care that will have to be provided to them, ongoing support, change-of-life circumstances ... it affects people around them to a large degree.

“It does impact not just the person who was driving the car or a passenger in the car ... it’s the network of relationships around the person who are impacted as well.

“Our key message is to stop and think about the consequences of the decisions you make before you drive, on your future, your loved ones and other road users, before you act.”

Acting Chief Supt Fadian says his team is increasing high-visibility patrols and RBTs, particularly during Road Safety Week.

And they are bracing for a busy time on the roads with September school holidays and Christmas on the horizon.

“It’s the spring holidays, after winter, people will travel. I’d urge people to exercise caution and good judgement into the school holidays in September but also for the rest of the year as well,” he says.

“We’re always concerned about road safety. We’d much rather prevent these incidents happening in the first place. That’s our aim, prevention – preventing trauma, preventing people injuring themselves and other road users – and making sure the roads are safe for everyone to use.”

He also urges drivers to take care when sharing the road with “vulnerable road users” such as motorcycle riders, pedestrians, cyclists and those who are on e-scooters and e-bikes.

And calls on those vulnerable road users to exercise caution and good judgement.

“In terms of e-scooters and e-bikes, there’s less protection on those than a vehicle or even a motorcycle. People riding those (need to) exercise caution and obey the road rules. The consequences are more serious for people involved in a crash on those,” he says.