Latest news with #dangerousdrivers
ABC News
3 days ago
- Automotive
- ABC News
New interactive map reveals Queensland's deadliest crash hotspots
Queensland's peak motoring body, RACQ, has launched a new campaign demanding key government road safety reforms as this year's deaths toll climbs above 180. Experts warn the state is on track to match or exceed last year's road toll of 302 deaths, which was the worst in more than a decade. "It's time to get serious on road safety and crack down on dangerous drivers to save lives," RACQ CEO David Carter said. As Queensland Road Safety Week begins, RACQ is calling on the state government to act urgently, launching a new online dashboard aimed at pressuring policymakers and raising public awareness of danger zones. It is part of its landmark Get Serious on Road Safety campaign, launched on Sunday alongside national road safety advocates. Mr Carter says the motoring body wants the government to implement several major changes. 'We must see a significant boost in roadside drug and alcohol testing, supported by investment in rehabilitation to curb this alarming culture," he said. "Expanded vehicle impoundment powers to remove extreme offenders from their vehicles are also needed to deal with those who repeatedly and recklessly put lives at risk." RACQ is also calling for the urgent rollout of more point-to-point speed cameras on high-risk roads and a greater on-road police presence to help stop reckless driving. Mr Carter says he also wants a trusted vehicle security rating system introduced as part of broader efforts to tackle vehicle crime and stop stolen cars from becoming deadly weapons. "Over the five years, there were 31,742 crashes where people were killed or seriously injured on Queensland roads. That represents an estimated social cost of $35.7 billion," he said. "This new data exposes the scale of the crisis, and we're calling on both decision-makers and drivers to get serious on the issue. Road safety expert Narelle Haworth from QUT says the problem is growing, and so must the investment in prevention. "For every fatality there's at least 40 other injuries that are serious enough to affect people and their families for the rest of their lives," Professor Haworth said. "We can take the lessons we learned from the introduction of random breath testing, research shows the perceived likelihood of getting caught is what deters bad behaviour. As part of the campaign, RACQ has launched a new interactive Queensland Road Trauma Map that shows Queensland's most serious crash and fatality hotspots. It is designed to raise awareness of the scale and spread of serious crashes and help people understand where dangers are concentrated on the roads. The campaign also highlights dangerous driving on Queensland roads and calls for greater consequences, as speeding, drink driving and drug driving remain the top three causes of road trauma. Road safety advocates, including mother Judy Lindsay, have supported the push. Her daughter Hayley was killed by a drunk driver when she was just 20 years old. "He took Hayley's life in his hands and threw it away," she said. "Nothing prepares you for that phone call. "We need to do more to avoid tragedies on our roads, and we also need harsher penalties for those who do the wrong thing." For Peter Frazer OAM, the founder of Australia's National Road Safety Week, road trauma is also deeply personal. He lost his daughter Sarah in a crash when she, her broken down car, and the tow truck it was on, was hit by a truck on the roadside. "As everyone has a right to get home safe, any life lost is one too many," he said. "While all Australian governments have committed to halving the road toll by 2030, the number of lives lost continues in the wrong direction. Tragically, here in Queensland, it continues to rise. "Enough is enough. It's time to implement stronger enforcement and consequences to stop this unnecessary and tragic loss of life." One in six Queenslanders admitted to drink driving in a recent RACQ survey, the highest rate since the survey began in 2017. More than half avoided RBTs by changing routes, 40 per cent used apps to dodge police and six per cent confessed to taking illicit drugs before getting behind the wheel. Ms Lindsay urged drivers to use Queensland Road Safety Week to take more responsibility for everyone's safety. "Don't wait for it to be your child or loved one," she said. "We all need to push for change now, it starts with all of us."
RNZ News
4 days ago
- RNZ News
Three arrested after drivers flee in Manawatū, police say
(File photo) Photo: 123rf A group of dangerous drivers have been arrested after an on-road confrontation with police in Palmerston North overnight, police say. Officers reported seeing a vehicle being driven as part of a convoy on Roberts Line without license plates, about 11.40pm on Friday. The driver failed to stop for police and fled the scene in the vehicle, while the driver of another vehicle tried to block police from following, they said. Both vehicles were spiked nearby in the city, on Tremaine Avenue, a short time later. Officers arrested the two occupants of the vehicle that had no registration plates, after it came to a stop, but said the second vehicle continued to flee. "... due to the manner of driving, a pursuit was not authorised," police said. However the second vehicle was found at about 3am, and the driver arrested. A police spokesperson asked for people to report anti-social driving behaviour with as much information as safely possible. "We need your help preventing and responding to the activity," they said. "And in cases where we cannot immediately respond, [this] allows us to follow up with drivers and take later enforcement action." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
