Community

North Coast road deaths surge 48%

The North Coast region, encompassing the Sunshine Coast, Moreton Bay and Wide Bay Burnett, has recorded the highest number of road fatalities in Qld this year. According to the latest data from the Department of Transport and Main Roads, 52 of Qld’s 187 road deaths in 2025 have occurred in the North Coast region. This marks a 48.6% increase on the same period last year and a 25% rise on the region’s 5 year average.

Sunshine Coast personal injury lawyer Greg Spinda from Travis Schultz & Partners says the data on road fatalities and hospitalisations is disturbing and drivers need to pause to realise the impact of their actions on our roads.

“Already this year, the North Coast region accounts for almost 30% of all fatalities statewide and every number in these statistics represents someone’s mum, dad, child, sibling or friend. Each loss ripples through families, communities and adds to an already stretched health system,” said Greg.

Speeding, drinking and drug use are what we tend to hear about when it comes to breaking the road rules, however the number of distracted and inattentive drivers has continued to rise over the past 5 years – often with devastating consequences.

One such harrowing story is that of Noosa local Wes Raddysh, who in 2022 was hit by a car resulting in the loss of his left leg. Wes said that driver’s fraction of a second of distraction cost him much of his quality of life and changed his idyllic semi-retirement plan in Noosa forever.

“If I had been a second earlier or later my life wouldn’t have changed but in that split second, he came straight into my motorbike and, despite only travelling at around 8km/hr, the impact was devastating,” said Wes.

Wes said recent road rule changes introduced on 1 July – including increased fines and new 40 km/ hr speed limits in several Qld tourist zones – are a welcome step toward improving safety and tackling the behaviours that put lives at risk.

“We’d also like to see crash ‘black spots’ publicly named, and more visibility around the number of claims and injuries in specific areas so that patterns can be identified, and road authorities can make informed decisions on road funding allocations.

“With 2024 the worst year for road trauma in 15 years, and 2025 already tracking worryingly high, the latest statistics are a tragic reminder of why we need to act to protect all road users,” said Wes.