Airman mourned after fatal crash

TRAGIC LOSS: Shane Dryden saw action in Iraq and was bound for Afghanistan.

THE man who died when his car crashed on the Warrego Hwy near Gatton early Friday morning has been described as a loving father and devoted airman with the RAAF.

Shane Dryden was only five minutes from his parents' Gatton home when his Toyota Land Cruiser veered off the road at the University of Queensland overpass on the highway.

The father of two, who was staying with his parents, Beven and Lynn Dryden, while on leave, was returning to Gatton after volunteering at a speedway meet in Gympie the night before.

Flight Lieutenant Dryden was a decorated airman who completed three tours of Iraq and was also set to serve in Afghanistan later this year.

He was a father to Madeline, five, and Edward, two. Flt-Lt Dryden was due to return to duties aboard P3-Orion aircraft based in Adelaide today.

A moment's silence was held at Charlton Raceway on Saturday night in honour of Flt-Lt Dryden, who was set to volunteer as an official at the National Super Sedan Series event being held at the track

Mr Dryden's death signalled a tragic end to a year in which 269 people died on Queensland roads, 20 more deaths than 2010.

While official police figures for the Darling Downs region are not available, The Chronicle reported on 25 road deaths in the region in 2011.

The deadliest road crash in the Downs region happened on Bennetts School Rd, north-west of Tara, when four people died and one man was critically injured in a single vehicle crash.

"Reducing the road trauma is a huge challenge for the Queensland police," Deputy Commissioner Ian Stewart said.

EVERY death on Queensland's road is "one too many" for the state's deputy police commissioner, even if statistically Queensland's roads were safer last year.

Father of two and decorated RAAF flight lieutenant Shane Dryden was one of the last people to die on the state's roads in 2011.

The 40-year-old was on leave from the RAAF and returning from volunteering at a Gympie speedway meet when he crashed on the Warrego Highway just five minutes from his parents' Gatton home early on Friday.

Flt-Lt Dryden, who completed at least three tours of Iraq and was due to go to Afghanistan later this year, had been spending a few days with his now-devastated parents Beven and Lynn Dryden at their home.

Mr Dryden described his son as "a near-perfect father" to his two children - Madeline, 5, and Edward, 2 - as well as a devoted airman.

Flt-Lt Dryden, whose two sisters live in Toowoomba and Ipswich and whose brother lives in Brisbane's bayside, had been due to return to duties aboard P3-Orion aircraft based in Adelaide tomorrow.

"He really adored his kids and his kids adored him," Mr Dryden said. "We've always been very proud of him."

Mr Dryden said he had driven speedway cars when he was younger and his son had become hooked on the sport.

"He always had his hands in the oil," Mr Dryden said. "He was a really good mechanic."

The family were now grappling with their loss, Mr Dryden said.

Queensland's roads claimed 269 people in 2011, Deputy Police Commissioner Ian Stewart said yesterday, the second-lowest toll since accurate records began in 1952.

There were 20 more deaths than 2010, but 52 less than the previous five-year average, Mr Stewart said, or 5.87 fatalities per 100,000 population last year.

Mr Stewart said "in many respects 2011 was a year where people really did drive safely, although we still had the tragedies of the 269 deaths".

"I urge everyone on our roads to get serious about road safety and decrease their chance of becoming a statistic by simply obeying the road rules, driving safe vehicles at safe speeds and to generally have a safer attitude when on the roads."

Crashes involving multiple deaths rose significantly compared with 2010, with 31 of last year's fatal crashes resulting in 75 fatalities.

"During 2010, there were 12 fatal crashes that resulted in multiple fatalities," Mr Stewart said.

"To have the number nearly triple in 2011 is very disappointing."

The Courier-Mail joined with police and the State Government for the What's the Rush campaign throughout 2011.

The campaign, which followed 2010's Brake the Habit, highlighted the need for drivers to slow down and not become impatient.

It was the fourth annual campaign for The Courier-Mail, police and the Government and will be followed by another road toll focus for 2012.