Road users implored to take more care over holiday period

Published Tuesday, 22 September, 2015 at 08:16 AM

Minister for Main Roads, Road Safety and Ports and Minister for Energy and Water Supply
The Honourable Mark Bailey

The Palaszczuk Government is imploring Queensland motorists to take more care and drive responsibly during the September school holiday period.

Minister for Road Safety Mark Bailey has urged families to stay safe while driving after a horror weekend on the state’s roads. 

“I urge all motorists to obey speed limits, drive to the conditions and keep your eyes firmly fixed on the road,” Mr Bailey said.

“It’s been another tragic start to a holiday period with six people losing their lives on our roads over the weekend, it’s just not good enough.

“My heart goes out to all the families involved and it’s just the worst possible start to what should be a fun holiday period for so many families.”

“The clear safety messages we are sending out are not getting through to motorists and we don’t want a repeat of the shocking Easter road toll back in April.

The Palaszczuk Government has committed to improving road safety with harsher laws now in effect for drivers who repeatedly use their mobile phones behind the wheel.

“Motorists should be vigilant at all times because road deaths are heartbreaking for the whole community and sadly most of them are preventable,” Mr Bailey said.

“The golden rules are for drivers to slow down, obey the road rules, put your mobile phone away and don’t drive tired or under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

“There is nothing so important that involves risking your life and those of other road users while driving to and from destinations, it’s as simple as that.”

There have been 169 fatalities on Queensland roads so far this year, 162 people died during the same period in 2014.  

ENDS

Media Contacts:     Tim Shipstone – 3719 7321, 0419 246 157

                             Alex Chamberlain – 3719 7316, 0406 544 142