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Last Updated: Monday, 21 August 2023 12:49

Published: Monday, 21 August 2023 12:30

‘Road safety starts with me’. It’s the clear message that Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) and emergency services want all road users to always keep front of mind.

The message was repeated at today’s (August 21) 2023 Queensland Road Safety Week launch at the Highfields Shopping Centre, where Council was joined by representatives from the Queensland Police Service, the Queensland Fire and Emergency Service, the Queensland Ambulance Service, the Department of Transport and Main Roads and community road safety education organisations.

Toowoomba Region Mayor Geoff McDonald said Council was determined to focus attention on residents’ individual responsibility to make a positive difference on the roads.

“We must all adopt the attitude that everyone plays a role to keep our roads safe,” Mayor McDonald said.

“Queensland Road Safety Week offers another forum for raising road safety awareness and pledging to work toward saving lives on our roads.

“This week’s campaign sharpens our focus on collective and individual responsibilities for all road users – including pedestrians, cyclists, public transport passengers, motorcyclists and motorists – so we’re very proud to be supporting this initiative with our partners.”

TRC Infrastructure Services Committee chair Cr Carol Taylor said the organisations were asking all road users to give their full attention to the road and surrounding conditions on every journey.

“There is no room for complacency. Please remember to 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 around you,” Cr Taylor said.

“Council stays committed to improving road safety through better engineering of our road projects and advocating for road safety education.

“Council is working to update its Road Safety Strategy. This refresh will ensure that our strategy serves as an action plan that helps Council, our key stakeholders and the community participate in road safety initiatives across the Region.

“Council will keep advocating to state and federal governments to reverse the reduction in road funding in real terms for regional and rural roads. Increasing funding for road infrastructure projects is vital to keep pace with higher traffic volumes and community expectations.

“As we ramp up work on our permanent reconstruction works under our current Flood Recovery Program, I ask motorists to please be patient and observe all roadwork signs to ensure everyone goes home to their loved ones.

“Council also recently completed Black Spot program work in Toowoomba that upgraded traffic signals at the Bridge-Hume Streets intersection and we will start the upgrade of the Margaret and Mackenzie Streets intersection in late September this year. This upgrade includes the introduction of traffic signals, which will help people to walk, ride and drive through the busy intersection safely. The design also includes bicycle awareness zones, plus kerb and channel works.

“Council earlier this year was awarded funding for two new upgrade projects at the Holberton-Bridge Street and Margaret-West Street intersections.

“In the past year Council, together with our road safety partners, has taken action to help our community to be safer on the road.”

Some of these actions include: Speed limit reductions are being implemented on Hume Street, north of Chalk Drive; Hursley Road (east of Tor Street), and Wyalla Street. Council is also reviewing other road corridors in urban areas.

TRC Infrastructure Services portfolio leader and Regional Active and Public Transport Advisory Committee chair Cr Melissa Taylor said Council supported and promoted a range of road safety initiatives such as National Road Safety Week and Queensland Road Safety Week, National Ride Safely to School Day and the Fatality Free Friday event.

“Council has applied for funding to improve safety near schools under the School Transport Infrastructure Program and will undertake a road safety review in Lindsay Street, between Bridge and Margaret Streets,” Cr Melissa Taylor said.

“This review will include a road safety audit, speed assessment review and a parking review. We will assess what measures can be implemented to increase safety for pedestrians, cyclists, visitors, and different park users, including children on bikes and scooters.”

For more information about Queensland Road Safety Week, please visit: https://streetsmarts.initiatives.qld.gov.au/qrsw-2023/

Caption: Pressing home the road safety message: Cr Kerry Shine (left) is joined by TRC Infrastructure Services Committee chair Cr Carol Taylor, Toowoomba Region Mayor Geoff McDonald, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Assistant Commissioner Jason Lawler, Queensland Police Service Toowoomba Police District Inspector Paul James, Queensland Ambulance Service Acting Officer in Charge Toowoomba Ambulance Station Mei-Lin Dean and Federal Member for Groom Garth Hamilton at the 2023 Queensland Road Safety Week launch.