For more than 50 years, the RACS Trauma Committee has worked with policy makers and legislators to strengthen road safety measures, including mandatory seatbelt wearing, drink driving countermeasures and helmet laws.
So far this year, there have been 115 deaths on Queensland roads, a jump of 11 per cent compared to the previous year.
Chair of the RACS Trauma Committee, Dr Matthew Hope, a Brisbane based orthopaedic surgeon said speed is a major factor in serious and fatal traffic crashes.
“The petition to raise speed limits on Queensland roads to 130km/h is dangerous and should be dismissed by the Queensland Government and the Department of Transport and Main Roads,” Dr Hope said.
“The evidence is indisputable. The faster you go, the longer it takes to stop, and if you crash, the more severe the impact.
“Small increases in speed have severe consequences if you crash. An accident at 130km/h would be catastrophic.”
More than a quarter of fatal car accidents in Queensland involve speeding drivers. The likelihood of surviving a crash also decreases rapidly above certain impact speeds.
Dr Hope said more than 730 people sustain severe injuries as a result of accidents on Queensland roads each year.
“Many of these people live with long-term, debilitating injuries as a result of being the driver or passenger of a vehicle involved in a high-speed road accident,” Dr Hope said.
“These injuries are a significant burden on Queensland’s health system and can have long-term, devastating consequences on the quality of life of the person involved in the car accident.
“Increasing speed limits on Queensland roads will undermine road safety initiatives and result in more deaths and more severe injuries.”
Ends
Media enquiries:
Michelle Coleman, Acting Head of Marketing & Communications
Contact: +61 402 474 900
David McHugh, Clout PR & Content
Contact: +61 455 225 688