RACQ: Put safety first this weekend as road toll soars

Club spokesperson Lauren Ritchie said unfortunately three-day weekends were a high-risk time for crashes and fatalities with more people hitting the road to explore the State.

“We know plenty of Queenslanders will be travelling locally, as the borders are closed to New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and Victoria,” Ms Ritchie said.

“We expect to see heavy traffic on the major roads heading north and south from Brisbane starting this afternoon, so we need to plan ahead and pack our patience.”

Ms Ritchie said the Queensland road toll sat at 149, compared to 124 at the same time last year.

“Sadly, Queensland is the only State in Australia that hasn’t seen its road toll decrease this year compared with the same period last year,” she said.

“Despite there being less traffic on the roads due to coronavirus travel restrictions we’ve seen more cases of incredibly dangerous driver behaviour.”

Ms Ritchie said above everything else, motorists should avoid taking unnecessary risks.

“The Fatal Five, including mobile phones and distraction, are responsible for the majority of deadly crashes on our roads,” she said.

“Motorists need to wake up to the risk the are taking every time they take their eyes off the road.

“Set your phone to Do Not Disturb before you get behind the wheel, so your focus isn’t taken away from driving.

“If you’re going on a long trip, make sure you plan regular breaks and get a good night’s sleep beforehand to fight fatigue.”