There could be an increased number of police on the roads this week as Queensland Road Safety Week goes into overdrive.
The week aims to focus on road safety issues and runs until Friday August 28.
Police said there would be a greater focus on road safety during that time.
“Every day, road crashes devastate the lives of Queenslanders and take an enormous toll on families and communities,” Senior Sergeant Michael Carige said.
“The number of lives lost and people seriously injured in crashes on Queensland roads continues to rise.
“Road safety is everyone’s responsibility. Putting road safety first should be your priority every time you use the road – regardless of whether you’re a driver, passenger, pedestrian, bicycle rider, motorcycle rider, or a combination of these.
Join us in showing your support for safer Queensland roads – not just during Queensland Road Safety Week, but every time you’re on or near the roads.”
In 2019, 21 lives were lost, and 1,473 people were seriously injured on Queensland roads in crashes involving distracted drivers or riders.
Anyone travelling at 60km/h who take their eyes off the road for just two seconds, their vehicle will travel more than 33 metres. With the average person’s reaction time around 1.8 seconds, this means nearly four seconds can pass before a driver reacts to a hazard, police said
“If you’re driving distracted, you are putting yourself and others at serious risk,” they said.
“Distracted driving is caused by any activity that takes your attention off the road which could include taking your eyes off the road or your hands off the steering wheel. All types of distracted driving increase your risk of a car crash, major injury and even death.
“Mobile phones are one of the biggest distractors for drivers. Texting while driving is as dangerous as drink driving and can have serious consequences.”
