This week is Queensland Road Safety Week and together with the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) we're committing to putting road safety first.
Road conditions can change due to a variety of factors from weather, animals, the environment, traffic and roadworks so it's important to drive to the prevailing conditions.
This includes on our state's rural roads, where there were 136 lives lost and 1,915 people seriously injured in 2019 - that's more than 60% of total lives lost on our roads.
When driving on rural and remote roads, remember:
- Reduce your speed before nearing the edge of the road and prepare for surface change - the edge may drop off or have loose stones.
- If you're driving towards the west, the afternoon sun can affect your vision. Consider this when planning your trip.
- Keep an eye out for livestock and wildlife on or at the side of the road, especially at night. Slow down and beep your horn if you see animals at the edge of the road about to cross.
Every hazard on our roads has an impact on how your car will behave. When the conditions outside the vehicle change, you need to adjust the way you drive.
Not driving to the conditions can have serious consequences for all road users, so pay attention to what's happening on the roads, slow down and put road safety first, every trip, every time.
Plan ahead and stay safe
Familiarise yourself with different conditions that you may experience by visiting https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/safety/road-safety/driving-safely/driving-conditions.
Before you head out on the road, check out the road conditions and be prepared: https://roadconditions.racq.com.au/
Queensland Road Safety Week is running from 24 - 28 August. Put road safety first and show your support by signing up for road safety:
- Think of a road safety message you want to share, then put it on a sign or create one using a TMR template.
- Take a photo of your sign, making sure we can read your road safety message.
- Share your photo! Fill in this form to add your sign to the TMR gallery, or share it on your socials tagging @StreetSmarts QLD.
