Vehicle safety a focal point these school holidays
SCHOOL HOLIDAYS
Today is the last of term for schoolchildren across Queensland and parents and guardians are being urged to check their vehicle is safe before hitting the road for the holidays.
Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said there has been a horror few weeks on the roads and school holidays should be a time for fun, not tragedy.
“Last month we witnessed one of the worst weeks on Queensland roads,” he said.
“In addition to keeping the fatal five front of mind, we want Queenslanders to regularly check their vehicle for any potential issues and reduce the risk of any mechanical-related crashes.
“We’ve rolled out our roadside checks for a number of years now, and the feedback on the ground is that it often helps mums and dads identify issues with their car they might not have otherwise noticed.”
Mr Bailey said while transport inspectors were out on the road last week, maintaining road safety is a year-round duty all drivers have to take seriously.
More than 1265 light vehicles were intercepted over a seven-day period, providing an invaluable opportunity for our Queensland drivers to learn about vehicle safety.
While most intercepted drivers were operating their vehicle safely and legally, 192 defect notices were issued by transport inspectors during the June operation mainly for minor or self-clearing defects.
About 75 per cent of vehicles that received a defect notice had issues with lights and electrical components and/or wheels and tyres.
“Road safety is everyone’s responsibility and performing regular safety checks is the best, and often cheapest, way to maintain a safe vehicle,” he said.
"Prevention is key, and the best thing any road user can do to ensure they have a safe vehicle perform regular checks.
“Motorists are also encouraged to check the safety and condition of equipment they plan to tow, including caravans, boats and trailers.
“If you plan to travel with a caravan or trailer, ensure it’s in a roadworthy condition and your vehicle is suitable for towing and properly equipped.
“Anyone travelling on a long trip should also schedule rest stops every two hours to avoid fatigue and help arrive safely at their destination.”
For more information about transport inspectors and road safety, visit the Transport and Main Roads website.
Join the conversation
Give a THUMB UP or THUMB DOWN on what we've covered OR place a COMMENT below.
Got a great news tip or video? We'd love to see it.
Send news tips to editor@newsport.com.au
* Readers are encouraged to use their full details below to ensure comment legitimacy. Comments are the opinions of readers and do not represent the views of Newsport or its staff. Comments containing unlawful, obscene, defamatory, personal or abusive material will not be published.
