Bundaberg Police and local first responders have marked National Road Safety Week by urging the community to take more responsibility when driving on our roads.
Acting Senior Sergeant Matthew Swann said recent road tragedies had sadly served to highlight the fact that the Wide Bay currently had one of the highest fatality rates in Queensland.
“We really want to drive home to the community that the moment that you’re behind the wheel of a car you’ve obviously got a large responsibility – you are in, what can be, a weapon,” he said.
“Whether you're a driver of a motor vehicle, a passenger in a car, driving a bus or tractor, towing trailers or caravans, it’s really important for you to step up to the plate and take some responsibility when you’re behind the wheel.
“There's no point rushing to a destination because you simply won't get there and that's what we've seen happen in Bundaberg this week which is very tragic”.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Inspector Trevor Duncan reiterated the importance of the road safety message.
“We fully support Queensland Police in the messaging today and the week ahead of us,” he said.
“We are also an organisation that responds to these incidents and so they have an impact on all concerned.”
Queensland Ambulance Service Inspector Nigel Jones said it was important to remember that accidents could cause life-changing injuries as well as life-ending ones.
“As ambulance paramedics it's obviously very traumatising for our officers to attend significant road traffic crashes, particularly those ones that involve fatalities or critical injuries,” he said.
“It’s something that paramedics train many years for, however it doesn't make it any easier in attending these instances.
“When you get behind the wheel of a car you take your behaviour seriously and you ensure that you have the capability to drive safely and that you pay attention to ensure that you get to your destination safely.”
National Road Safety Week runs from 14 to 21 May and is an annual initiative to highlight the impact of road trauma and ways to reduce it.
This is followed by Fatality Free Friday on 26 May which aims for a day without a death on the roads.
To find out more about the initiative click here.
