Across Central Queensland, road safety groups have been out in force with campaigns and initiatives aimed at keeping drivers, passengers and communities safe.
Sadly, road trauma continues to hit close to home.
Central Queensland has experienced a significant increase in road fatalities, contributing to a statewide surge in serious crashes. So far this year 245 people have lost their lives on Queensland roads, with 18 to 34 year olds continuing to be the most at-risk age group.
A major challenge is a lack of professional driver training services which is leaving young people without access to structured lessons. Local youth services, including ELAM, are working with industry partners to explore solutions such as block driver education sessions to close the gap and give new drivers the experience they need.
Community awareness remains a focus, with new campaigns continuing to reach drivers in fresh ways.
Road Safe Moranbah’s recent e-scooter safety poster competition has sparked plenty of discussion, with the winning design set to feature on the back of local buses.
Road Safe volunteers also joined forces with Queensland Police, BHP, Anglo American and Kinetic for a Random Breath Testing (RBT) initiative on Goonyella Road during Road Safety Week. From first light, drivers were stopped, tested and surveyed. Alongside alcohol testing, fatigue checks were carried out to highlight that drowsy driving can be just as dangerous as drink driving.
Middlemount and Moura groups have also been on the front foot, with recent drowsy driver awareness campaigns and defensive driving lessons giving locals the tools and reminders they need to make safer decisions.
The Road Accident Action Group (RAAG) has been busy rolling out major new initiatives across Central Queensland thanks to funding from the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR).
A year-long billboard campaign launched in April spreading a simple but vital message to drivers from Gladstone to Proserpine and out to Nebo. The campaign also includes airport signage as well as prominent locations along major highways. The messaging is clear, keep an eye out for wide loads and their escort and police vehicles and give way when directed and pull over safely. The campaign will continue until April 2026.
In August, RAAG volunteers spent ten days on the road identifying the best sites for another project that will leave a lasting mark. More than 100 rest areas and toilet blocks across Central Queensland were assessed for their suitability to host 50 new large-format permanent safety signs. Volunteers took photos, measurements and notes at each site to help refine the final list.
The trip covered Mackay, Bowen, Giru, Charters Towers, Hughenden, Winton, Longreach, Barcaldine, Alpha, Anakie, Rubyvale, Sapphire, Clermont, Capella, Emerald, Blackwater, Mount Morgan, Biloela, Calliope River, Mount Larcom and Kershaw Gardens.
The next step is for RAAG to compile the results, identify the top 50 locations, liaise with stakeholders and secure approvals before organising installation, which is hoped to be completed by the end of the year.
The August road trip was supported by volunteer Carol Single, who also joined the journey. Her efforts, and the work of other volunteers, continue to be the backbone of RAAG’s projects across the region.
With billboards on highways, safety signs in rest areas and a dedicated team of volunteers, RAAG’s work is a reminder that a simple message in the right place can make the difference between a safe trip and a tragedy.
Road safety is everyone’s responsibility and young people are stepping up too.
The Isaac Regional Council Youth Action Group is set to launch a new road safety trial on the Peak Downs Highway with support from Coates Hire Moranbah.
Drivers will notice digital trivia signs in key fatigue zones. The signs will rotate trivia questions and answers to help motorists stay engaged on long stretches of road and encourage safer driving. The first project of its kind in Central Queensland, the trial will be followed by community surveys to measure its success, with the Youth Action Group aiming to secure further sponsorship to make the signs a permanent feature.
On the roads themselves, a series of upgrades are underway. The Phillips Creek Bridge replacement is on track for completion in January, while widening works on Saraji Road and an intersection upgrade near Peak Downs Mine are improving safety for commuters and heavy vehicles. Smaller upgrades including signage, line-marking and audio treatments are also being rolled out across key routes.
Isaac Regional Council has secured $2.4 million in funding from the Queensland Government’s Country Roads Connect Program to upgrade Cotherstone-Capella Road. The works will include sealing 3 kilometres of road, starting at the intersection with Dysart Clermont Road and heading south. This investment will improve safety, reduce transport costs and deliver lasting benefits for our regional community.
Whether it is fatigue, speed, inexperience or visibility, the message is the same, every decision behind the wheel counts. Road safety is not just the job of police or road groups. It is a responsibility shared by every driver, every passenger and every community.
