Police “shattered” by Mackay region road carnage
Richard Dinnen - Queensland Editor |
Queensland Police officers are “shattered” by the number of fatal road accidents and serious crashes in the Mackay region so far this year.
15 people have been killed, eight of them in May. The latest was a 17-year-old motorcycle rider who died in hospital following a collision at Blacks Beach on the weekend.
In the same period last year, two people were killed on Mackay roads.
Inspector Anthony Cowan said road users have to take responsibility for their actions.
“People have made decisions to speed, to drink and drive, to drive an unregistered vehicle with no lights.
“There are conscious decisions being made by people on our roads, and these are the consequences. Every couple of days, someone is losing a loved one.”
Local police have increased traffic patrols and breath testing in recent weeks and called in support from Brisbane-based traffic officers.
Inspector Cowan said there’s a limit to what police can do, and driver behaviour has to change.
“It’s past the point where we just increase patrols and try to intercept people. We can’t be on every street corner.
“Most of these crashes are avoidable. The majority have been the result of speeding or alcohol.
“You’ve got to have some responsibility. You’re driving a one-tonne metal weapon, basically.
“We have three full-time forensic crash investigators. I’ve never seen them so busy, and so exhausted.
“Between the investigations, and telling loved ones someone has died, it’s been a tough month for everybody involved,” Inspector Cowan said.
The Queensland road toll stands at 128, compared to 107 for the same period last year.
