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AAP
AAP
National
Marty Silk

Qld to top grim national road toll

Queensland's roads are deadlier than either NSW or Victoria with the state's death toll set to top the nation.

There were 299 deaths in the state in 2022, compared to 288 in NSW, 240 in Victoria and 50 in Tasmania, although the latter recorded the biggest proportional rise.

Queensland Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey says the government will host a road safety roundtable this month to hammer out ideas to improve the situation.

"The number of lives lost on Queensland roads has been the worst in more than a decade: 299 lives," he told reporters on Monday.

"There are a lot of Queenslanders today who are grieving for people who weren't there for Christmas, and will never be there ever again, so this is a source of real concern to us."

While other states are yet to release their end-of-year figures, more than 1191 people had died on the nation's roads by November 30.

All states thus have recorded a rise in road deaths over a year when pandemic restrictions were eased, extreme rainfall made roads slippery and drivers have been washed away in their cars after driving into floodwaters.

However, the main factors in most fatal crashes remain speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, not wearing a seatbelt, distraction and fatigue.

The NSW road toll rose to 288 last year, up from a historic low of 275 in 2021.

However, that was below the pre-pandemic average which was nearing one death every day.

Transport for NSW safety, environment and regulation deputy secretary Tara McCarthy says the toll is the third-lowest in 100 years, but the government is committed to reducing road deaths to zero by 2050.

"The road toll isn't just a number. It's someone's mum, dad, son, daughter, partner, or friend," she said in a statement on Monday.

"Any death or serious injury is one too many and the NSW government is continuing to roll out plans to help drive down our toll."

Tasmania's road toll also jumped by more than 30 per cent to 50 deaths in 2022, up by 15 from the previous year, with 255 people seriously injured.

State Transport Minister Michael Ferguson said the sobering statistics showed the challenges Tasmania faced to achieve a goal of zero deaths and injuries on its roads.

"We know the impact of these deaths affects families, friends and entire communities," he said in a statement on Sunday.

"Our thoughts are with everyone affected by these tragedies, particularly as the absence of loved ones is especially felt during the Christmas season."

In Victoria, the number of people killed on the state's roads last year rose to 240, up from 233 in 2021, with more than half of all fatal accidents in regional areas.

ROAD DEATH TOLL BY JURISDICTION IN 2022:

* Queensland: 299, up from 277

* NSW: 288, up from 275

* Victoria: 240, up from 233

* Tasmania: 50, up from 35.

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