Queensland records lowest ever annual road toll

Fewer Queensland families suffered the trauma of losing a loved one in a car crash than ever before last year as the state recorded its lowest ever road toll.

Acting Police Minister Andrew Powell and Commissioner Ian Stewart today announced that 223 people lost their lives on Queensland’s roads in 2014, down 26 on the previous record low toll recorded in 2010.

Acting Minister Powell said the Newman LNP Government’s strong plan to make Queensland roads the safest in the country was having an impact.

“Our strong LNP team has worked hard to create safer roads for Queenslanders through tougher laws, upgraded roads, and more effective enforcement and education,” Mr Powell said.

“An additional 800 frontline police and our dedicated Road Policing Command have been instrumental in targeting the Fatal Five throughout 2014.

“We have the toughest anti-hooning laws in the country and have lowered speed tolerances to ensure dangerous drivers are caught.

“Our strong plan, along with road safety awareness campaigns and education programs, meant 48 fewer families were affected by road trauma in 2014.

“But there are still 223 families grieving the loss of loved ones and we’re committed to doing all we can do reduce that number even further.

“Now is not the time to be complacent.  As a community we need to do everything we can to bring down the level of road trauma and make this state the safest place for families.”

Commissioner Ian Stewart said that while he was proud of the part the Queensland Police Service had played in the reduction of the road toll, the loss of any life was tragic.

“While it is an achievement to have significantly reduced the road toll this year, the fact remains that 223 people will not get to spend the New Year with friends and family, and their loss will be felt by everyone they knew as we start 2015,” Commissioner Stewart said.

“We are developing a new Queensland road safety action plan and our key strategies in 2015 will include an expansion of our roadside drug-testing capability, improvements in speed camera technology and continuing our ‘anywhere, anytime’ high-visibility road policing operations.”

[ENDS] 1 January 2015

Media contact: Andrew Kos 0408 912 821