Extract from ABC News
Jessica Feeney's daughter Luna was hit by a car and killed in December 2020. (ABC News: Michael Lloyd)
In short:
Queensland's road toll is close to 300 heading into the final weeks of 2024.
Emergency departments are reporting a spike in patients with crash-related injuries.
What's next?
Police are urging drivers to take extra care on the roads over the holidays.
Hundreds of families face Christmas without their loved ones this year as Queensland's devastating road toll continues to rise.
With 288 deaths so far in 2024, the state is on track to have the worst road toll in 15 years with warnings it could exceed 300.
The shocking statistics have frustrated front-line workers with Queensland Police Acting Chief Superintendent Garrath Channells urging people to take more care over the holiday period.
"We have lots of families travelling on our road networks … and travelling on unusual, unknown roadways whilst they're on their way to holidays," the Acting Chief Superintendent warned.
"What could surprise people is the fact that mature road users are over-represented in fatalities … that's people aged between 25 and 59 years."
Pedestrians killed
More motorcyclists, passengers and pedestrians have been killed in 2024 than the previous five years, according to the Department of Transport and Main Roads.
Gold Coast mother Jessica Feeney is marking four years since the "soul-destroying" loss of her daughter Luna Capri.
Luna Capri died after she was hit by a car on the Gold Coast in December 2020. (ABC News: Johanna Marie)
The preschooler was struck by a car outside their family home and died just days before Christmas.
"Her life support was turned off on the 22nd of December, three days shy of Christmas day," said Ms Feeney.
"The festive time should be a time for love and laughter, not loss of life."
Ms Feeney, an ambassador for the Australian Road Safety Foundation, hoped sharing her story would help prevent further tragedies.
"I urge that every person that gets behind a wheel this holiday season thinks of Luna," she said.
The mural has become a place for Luna's family and the community to gather and "reflect". (ABC News: Michael Lloyd)
Stress on hospitals
Queensland's emergency departments are also experiencing a spike in patients with crash-related injuries; the Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service has reported a 15 per cent increase compared to last year.
Bundaberg Emergency Physician Thomas Papior said it had contributed to overcrowding and increased workloads for hospital staff across the state.
"Long term, some of these more severe injuries, such as traumatic brain injury, spinal injuries, major broken bones would require people to be transferred down to Brisbane for even more specialist tertiary care," he said.
Thomas Papior says traffic crashes are putting extra pressure on the state's hospitals. (ABC News: Johanna Marie)
Queensland Ambulance Service Senior Operations Supervisor Martin Kelly said serious and fatal crashes had a "massive impact" on first responders, but also the community.
"The impact on those people, the people who are directly involved, the families of those people, the first responders, the passers-by," he said.
"It affects them for the rest of their lives."
Ms Feeney described it as a "ripple effect".
"It's not just my family that had to sit with the heaviness of losing our precious child, it was the first responders that were there at the time," she said.
"I know for Luna's accident that two of the ambulance drivers had to take three months leave."
The fatal five
Acting Chief Superintendent Channells said the "Fatal Five" were contributing to 95 per cent of fatal crashes.
"Speeding, not wearing your seat belt, drink and or drug driving, distraction and fatigue," he said.
"What we are seeing is ongoing instances where speed and intoxication are significant causal factors, predominantly in the built-up areas and city spaces.
Garrath Channells warns the road toll could climb to 300. (ABC News: Curtis Rodda)
"It really does sit on the public of Queensland who are utilising our road networks to ensure that they are looking after their own safety.
"The Queensland Police will take a zero-tolerance approach to poor behaviour, dangerous driving and high risk-taking on our roads."
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