Fatalities expected to exceed last year’s figures, according to Queensland authorities

ABC NEWS (Australia)

More than 200 people have died on Queensland roads this year, with speeding the highest cause. A third of the deaths have been in the Central Queensland region as locals are worried it is only going to get higher.

Transcript

00:00An anxious commute on this deadly regional highway.

00:06It is just unreal some of the behaviour you see.

00:09And most of it is just turning in to work every day can be quite scary.

00:14Every day there are close calls as drivers speed and overtake in blind spots.

00:19People aren't being aware enough of who's around them on the road.

00:24The Capricorn Highway is 580 kilometres long connecting Rockhampton in central Queensland to Barcoldon in the west.

00:32It spans farming and coal mining country and is a key freight route for heavy vehicles.

00:37This is a pipeline through to the west and to the north.

00:41So we have big trucks on the road all the time.

00:44Now all of that is a recipe for disaster.

00:47We've had I think it was a total of 14 injury traffic crashes in July and that's unacceptable.

00:53And when you do look into those and we investigate those, a lot of them are that fatal five.

00:58In Queensland last year, road crashes put more than 7,500 people in hospital while 302 people were killed.

01:06Authorities say this year looks set to exceed that figure.

01:09210 people have already died.

01:12Four people, including two young children, were killed in this crash on the Capricorn Highway.

01:17We're still working through with our people who attended that scene.

01:20And you can imagine doing the door knock for those ones is just something you don't want to have to do in your career ever.

01:26A $25 million project was completed in March on this stretch of highway between Comet and Emerald.

01:31Widening, improving lines and resealing a five kilometre section.

01:35While some say more work is needed, drivers are being urged to just slow down.

01:40As long as you drive to those conditions, things are going to be okay.

01:43As long as you drive to those conditions, things are going to be okay.

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