Bundy puts spotlight on older driver safety

Bundaberg community leaders will rally today to look at how the community can tackle safety for older drivers on the region’s roads.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey and police will visit a special forum tomorrow to meet with stakeholders and share ideas, which will be used for the next Queensland Road Safety Strategy.

In Bundaberg, more than one in five people seriously injured in crashes over the past five years were older road users.

Across Queensland, 25 per cent of people who died in crashes over the past five years were aged 60-years-old and over.

“While the number of deaths on Queensland roads is the lowest in five years, older drivers continue to be overrepresented,” Mr Bailey said.

“The Palaszczuk Government is delivering more $23 billion for better Queensland roads, including $900 million in road safety initiatives, but we all have a role to play.

Community groups, seniors’ organisations, health, police, local council, transport industry and service providers will attend the forum.

“We want people to put safety first when they head onto the roads, which is why we’ll be talking to community to see how we can get the message through.”

Queensland Road Safety Week is a State Government initiative, delivered annually in partnership by the Department of Transport and Main Roads and Queensland Police Service. The Motor Accident Insurance Commission (MAIC), RACQ and the Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety – Queensland (CARRS-Q) are supporters.

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