ELIZABETH ANDAL
Queensland road tolls rise despite road safety campaigns, an indication that providing awareness to the public is only half of the solution.
Last year, the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads implemented the very first Road Safety Week which focused on starting the conversation about the fatal five driving behaviours: speeding, fatigue, driving under the influence, not wearing a seat belt or correct child restraint, and driver distraction.
“Road safety is everyones responsibility and we continually encourage road users to be aware of the fatal five behaviours which contribute to nearly all deaths on our roads and do the right thing,” a Transport and Main Roads spokesperson said.
“We’re committed to ensuring everyone on Queensland roads is safe – but we can’t do it alone.”
According to the department’s statistics, the Queensland road toll currently stands at one hundred and fifty nine, one above the comparative time for 2015.”
“A big factor in road-related deaths is human behaviour – whether that’s the actions of the driver of a vehicle, their passengers, or even pedestrians – we all need to step up and play our part in keeping ourselves and each other safe.”
University student Ally* stated education provides some preventative measure from road fatality, however it does not provide a complete solution.
Earlier this year she lost her younger brother in a single-car fatality shortly after he obtained his red P plates.
“I have always seen accidents happen on the news or heard of someone being in an accident…but have always had in my head that I’m invincible…that will never happen to me.”
Despite awareness of the fatal five driving behaviours, the fatality was ultimately penned on lack of driving experience and defensive driving skills.
“He wasn’t doing anything wrong…it was driver inexperience,” she said.
“In my personal opinion, we need better programs in place for young drivers regardless of the campaigns.”
According to Ally, there should be more focus on hand-on training for future P platers and more emphasis on defensive driver training to get young drivers trained for any situation
“If you have a safe driver, no amount of TV ads are going to make them a more responsible driver if they already are.”
*Name has been changed to protect privacy.
