The worst annual road toll in 15 years has sparked a call for Queensland drivers to slow down.
As fireworks signalled the end of 2024, the statistics showed 302 people lost their lives on the state’s roads, with speed the cause of 20 percent of the fatalities.
State Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg urged Queenslanders to drive safely and look out for each other.
“In 2024, 302 people were killed on Queensland roads, making it the worst year on Queensland roads since 2009,” Minister Mickelberg said.
He said the most common contributing factors in serious and fatal crashes continued to be the Fatal Five of speeding, fatigue, distraction (including mobile phone use), incorrect seatbelt use, and drink and drug driving.
“Speeding has continued to climb year-on-year as a key factor in fatal crashes.
“Drivers are urged to slow down and drive to the conditions.”
Minister Mickelberg said there was a continued upward trend in motorcycle riders being over-represented in road trauma, with 77 riders killed in 2024, 25.5 percent above the five-year average, despite motorcycles comprising just four per cent of registered vehicles on our roads.
He said young drivers, aged 16 to 24 years old, made up around 13 percent of licence holders in the state, but were involved in almost 30 percent of the fatal crashes on our roads, highlighting the importance of on-going education.
“Similarly, 98 lives were lost in 2024 as a result of crashes involving senior drivers, which is a 32 percent increase compared to the average of the previous five years.”
Minister Mickelberg said with more Queenslanders using e-scooters, e-skateboards and solo wheels, 2024 saw eight people lose their lives on personal mobility devices (PMDs), with this number anticipated to increase as usage rises.
“Regional Queensland is sadly where most road users are losing their lives, accounting for more than 60 percent of fatal crashes.”
Fast facts
- 2024: 302 lives lost on Queensland roads, the highest since 2009.
- Five-year average (2020 to 2024): 285 lives lost on Queensland roads each year.
- In 2019, there were 220 lives lost on Queensland roads, the lowest number since accurate records began in 1952.
- Since 2020 however, road trauma has escalated with 2022 previously marking the highest number of lives lost in over a decade with 295 people killed.
- Fatal five contributing factors for road fatalities: 20 percent speed, 16 percent drink driving, 14 percent fatigue, 19 percent unrestrained (of vehicle occupants), and 9 percent distractions.
