As Queensland’s road toll continues to rise, the state’s peak motoring club is shining a light on the alarming number of males being killed behind the wheel.
Data from Queensland’s Department of Transport and Main Roads – published by the Royal Automotive Club of Queensland – shows 1344 road users died in the state between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2023.
Of those 1344 deaths, 1032 were males, representing a shocking 76.8 per cent of the state’s five-year road fatality count.
100s of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now.
The RACQ added further worrying statistics on how alcohol and drugs, as well as excessive speed and disobeying the road rules play a factor towards driving up the road toll.
| Male fatalities (Jan. 1, 2019 to Dec. 31, 2023) | Female fatalities (Jan. 1, 2019 to Dec. 31, 2023) | |
|---|---|---|
| Deaths attributed to alcohol and drug-affected drivers | 439 (42.5 per cent of male road fatalities) | 69 (22.1 per cent of female road fatalities) |
| Deaths attributed to excessive speed | 301 (29.2 per cent of male road fatalities) | 37 (11.9 per cent of female road fatalities) |
| Deaths attributed to disobeying road rules | 660 (64 per cent of male road fatalities) | 135 (43.3 per cent of female road fatalities) |
| Total deaths | 1032 | 312 |
Men dying at disproportionate rates on Queensland roads has spurred the RACQ to take action, as the motoring club this week launched its ‘Blooms for Blokes’ road safety campaign.
First introduced in 2023, the campaign – aligned with Queensland Road Safety Week – has been designed to raise awareness about the alarming number of male fatalities while driving or riding in the state.
“This campaign is centred on the idea that too often, the first time most men receive flowers is at their funeral,” said RACQ general manager of advocacy, Joshua Cooney.
“We want to invite Queenslanders to gift the men in their lives a flower while they’re alive, tell them how much they’d be missed if they were gone, and motivate them to be safe on the road.
“It’s clear that some men are deliberately making the choice to break the road rules and it is putting lives at risk. These are the men we need to reach and tell them how much they’d be missed if they didn’t make it home.”
The RACQ also noted 300 male motorcyclists were killed in the five-year period, representing 29 per cent of the road toll despite motorbikes accounting for only four per cent of Queensland’s registered vehicles.
You can find out more about the RACQ’s Blooms for Blokes road safety campaign here.
MORE: Australian road death toll surges to highest point in over a decade
MORE: Queensland to share crucial road safety data with Australian Government
