The Queensland Police Service is urging every road user to re-evaluate their driving behaviours as the state faces a devastating start to 2025, with more than 15 lives tragically lost on Queensland roads in the first few weeks.
The figure more than doubles the fatalities recorded during the same period last year and is the highest toll for this period since 2020.
It comes amid the state-wide road safety blitz, Operation Mistletoe, which has seen officers right across Queensland deployed on high visibility road safety operations with the aim of reducing the lives lost on Queensland roads.
Despite consistent and targeted police action, the start of 2025 has seen 17 people lose their lives on Queensland roads as of January 20.
QPS Road Policing and Regional Support Command, Acting Chief Superintendent Garrath Channells said these crashes were deeply concerning.
“These tragic numbers are not just statistics, they represent fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, and friends whose lives have been cut short,” Acting Chief Superintendent Channells said.
“Police are out there doing everything they can on the roads to try and bring this figure down and ensure people can return home to loved ones or their families.
“To then observe the deadliest start to the year since 2020 is truly harrowing.
“We’re pleading with every road user to make the right choices, because every decision you make on the road has the power to save a life or take one.”
Towards the end of 2024, the QPS observed a growing trend in deaths involving vulnerable road users, including pedestrians, motorcycle riders, and users of personal mobility devices such as e-scooters and e-bikes.
“Pedestrian deaths more than doubled with eight lives lost during 2024 compared to three in 2023, while eight people lost their lives on personal mobility devices, such as e-scooters and e-skateboards during 2024, compared to two lives lost in 2023,” Acting Chief Superintendent Channells said.
