STAY SAFE: Grim warning ahead of school holidays

EMERGENCY crews arrive at a crash only to find the driver dead still clasping a mobile phone.

This is one of the many scenarios that confront first responders to a fatal crash.

Mobile phones are still a major issue for Mackay’s Road Policing Unit and a cause of fatal crashes in the region.

Mackay Road Policing Unit officer in charge Senior Sergeant Shane Edwards said mobile phone use while driving was one of the biggest issues in this region.

“There are some motorists who seems to think it’s their right to use a phone while driving,” Snr Sgt Edwards said.

“We have had fatal crashes within the district where the primary cause has been the driver on their mobile phone.”

This is a grim reminder and stern warning as school holidays kick off today and police plan for increased traffic on the region’s roads.

Speed and drink and drug driving are also behind a number of fatal and injury crashes in the Mackay district.

“We are urging motorists to pay extra attention to what they’re doing … if travelling long distances, stop every two hours for a 15-minute break and share the driving if you can,” Snr Sgt Edwards said.

“In this day and age everyone knows the message about drink and drug driving.”

Extra police crews will be patrolling the roads and Snr Sgt Edwards said there would be increased enforcement activity for random breath tests and roadside drug testing.

Police will perform more random breath and drug tests during the school holidays.

“If you think you can do it and get away with it … you never know where we will be,” Snr Sgt Edwards said.

Aside from mobile phones, speeding and drink and drug driving are a constant frustration for Mackay’s road policing unit.

Forensic Crash Unit’s Sergeant Michael Hollett said it was disappointing some drivers still did not consider others in relation to their driving behaviour.

“It’s a simple message — if people followed the road rules and took their time, most crashes could be avoided,” Sgt Hollett said.

School holidays kick off today and police are urging motorists to take care with increases travellers on the roads.

Earlier this week a West Mackay woman was arrested for allegedly driving with a blood alcohol reading of 0.234 per cent, which is almost five times the legal limit.

“Everyone knows what the road rules are … while most obey, there are certainly people where no matter what the message is they just seem to think they can get away with it,” Snr Sgt Edwards said.

“And it’s horrific when an innocent party is injured or killed because of someone else’s stupidity.”