Road safety never takes a holiday - it starts with me.
That's the sobering message Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) and emergency services representatives are imploring residents and travellers to remember across the Christmas-New Year holidays.
TRC Infrastructure Services Committee Chair Cr Carol Taylor today (December 14, 2023) reinforced safe motoring messages along with senior officers from the Queensland Police Service, Queensland Ambulance Service, the Queensland Fire and Emergency Service, the Department of Transport and Main Roads and PCYC's Breaking the Cycle (learner driver mentor program) at Toowoomba's Kitchener Street fire station.
Cr Taylor said road users can not afford to relax or ignore basic road rules at an especially busy time on our Region's roads.
"Unfortunately, road crash figures indicate motorists are taking too many risks endangering other road users and themselves," Cr Taylor said.
"Council and emergency services are united in our efforts to remind motorists to observe road rules ensuring everyone can enjoy a safe and happy holiday or go about their daily business. Everyone deserves to travel safely and celebrate the Christmas-New Year season with their family and friends.
"Remember, give your total attention to the road and surrounding conditions on every journey. Always observe the fatal five: avoid driver distractions, avoid speeding, drink and drug driving, wear a seat belt and never drive when tired.
"There is no room for complacency. Avoid taking risks behind the wheel as you not only endanger your own life, but the lives of your passengers, other motorists and road users.
"We have a collective and individual responsibility to be safe on our roads, whether pedestrians, cyclists, public transport passengers, motorcyclists or motorists.
"Be alert and aware of your surroundings. Anticipating what other road users might or might not do contributes to safer journeys.
"While it is a busy time, please plan your journeys and take breaks if travelling over long distances and drive to the conditions, especially in unfamiliar surroundings."
Cr Taylor said Council was most grateful to all emergency services for their dedication to keeping the community safe so everyone can enjoy an incident-free holiday season.
Superintendent Doug McDonald, District Officer Darling Downs Police Region, said the Queensland-wide Operation Mistletoe was targeting drink and drug driving across the holidays.
He said four drink drivers and 20 drug drivers had been stopped across the Region since the operation started in mid-November and Police would maintain high visibility patrols over Christmas.
Superintendent McDonald said the Region's 31 road fatalities this year to date were 31 too many and a reminder for all motorists to drive safely.
Caption: QAS Acting District Chief Superintendent Jamie Taylor (left), TRC Infrastructure Services Committee chair Cr Carol Taylor, QFES Acting Assistant Commissioner Jason Lawler and QPS Superintendent Doug McDonald remind road users to observe road rules and drive to the conditions across the Christmas-New Year holidays.
