Hundreds gather to mark tragic road toll milestone

Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services
The Honourable Neil Roberts
10/11/2009
Hundreds gather to mark tragic road toll milestone
 
A sea of people will silently converge on locations across the state at 1pm today to highlight the number of Queenslanders who have died on our state's roads this year.

Police Minister Neil Roberts and Commissioner Bob Atkinson will lead a minutes silence in King George Square, Brisbane to mark the approach of 299 deaths.

Mr Roberts said 299 people wearing white hats would gather in the square, to remind members of the public about the lives that have tragically been lost.

"At the start of this year, the Bligh Government and the Queensland Police Service set an ambitious target of limiting the road toll to 'Below 299 in 2009'," Mr Roberts said.

"Sadly, the state's road toll is expected to pass the 299 target in the coming days, and there are still more than 50 days left in the year," he said.

"It is my hope that by working together, and with continued strong police enforcement, we can reduce the number of lives lost on our roads every y ear.

"That is why the Bligh Government provided increased funding over two years for an additional 106 traffic officers to be employed on Queensland streets.

"We must continue to publicise the impacts of road deaths on our community as a means to changing the attitudes and behaviours of the minority of drivers who keep doing the wrong thing.

"The message is clear to motorists who continue to drive recklessly - Police will catch and punish you to the full extent of the law."

In addition to the event at King George Square, people will gather at the Lagoon Esplanade at Cairns, Kirwin State High School, Central Queensland University in North Rockhampton, Cotton Tree Park at Maroochydore, Robina State High School and the St Savior's College, Neil Street in Toowoomba.

Commissioner Atkinson said that regional fatalities were highlighted at each event by the use of red hats in amongst a sea of white.

"Each one of these people represent s someone's family member, loved one or friend who will never come home. An empty place at the dinner table this Christmas," Commissioner Atkinson said.

The Queensland Police Service will continue to focus on road safety, to save lives with the likes of the 'fatal four' themed high-visibility vehicles launched in July.

Q-Cars, random drug testing, random breath testing, speed cameras, static and mobile speed detection and an increased presence from marked and unmarked vehicles could also be monitoring drivers anywhere, anytime throughout the state.

"Don't risk your life or the lives of others by speeding, drink driving, driving tired or not wearing a seat belt.

"How many more Queenslanders will we needlessly lose this year?"  Commissioner Atkinson asked.