Police are urging motorists to make better decisions on the roads with a mid-year report revealing an eight per cent increase in the number of fatal traffic crashes across Queensland.
A total of 91 lives have been lost on Queensland roads in the first five months of 2020, up from 84 at the same time last year.
Motorcyclists were highly represented in the figures, with one in four of all fatalities either motorcycle riders or passengers.
Road Policing Command Superintendent David Johnson said police were very concerned with trends in road trauma for the year so far.
“Despite less travel occurring on our roads so far this year due to COVID-19, we are seeing more trauma and that is a troubling.
“Importantly, many of the fatal traffic crashes which have occurred could have been prevented.
“Day-in and day-out, we are seeing road users make poor decisions on our roads and tragically, these decisions are having devastating consequences.
“Just because there is less traffic, does not give anyone a green light to reach ridiculously high speeds or get behind the wheel intoxicated or under the influence of drugs.”
Superintendent Johnson said 23 motorcycle riders and passengers had already lost their lives this year with many cases involving high speeds.
“The reality is motorcyclists are more vulnerable to injury than drivers and passengers in any other motor vehicle on our roads.
“Excess speed and loss of control are contributing factors in many traffic crashes involving motorcycles, so we really need riders to take responsibility and ride at speeds relative to the conditions and the posted speed limit.”
