Bruce Hwy rated one star in location of latest double fatality at Owanyilla on the Fraser Coast

Experts have raised new concerns over the condition of Queensland’s notorious Bruce Highway, as it can be revealed the latest double-fatal tragedy occurred on a stretch that fails to meet safety standards.

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Experts have raised new concerns over the condition of Queensland’s notorious Bruce Highway, as it can be revealed the latest double-fatal tragedy occurred, on a stretch that fails safety standards.

Two men died and a boy was injured in the latest horrific crash, which closed the highway south of Maryborough for more than five hours.

Emergency services rushed to the scene at Owanyilla about 8am on Friday after a Hyundai hatchback, travelling southbound, collided with a Volkswagen heading north.

The driver of the Hyundai, a 43-year-old Kallangur man, died at the scene after suffering critical injuries.

The driver of the Volkswagen, a 57-year-old Buddina man, also died at the scene.

His passenger, an 11-year-old Buddina boy, was flown to Sunshine Coast University Hospital in a stable condition.

The stretch of the highway where the crash happened has only a one-star rating under the Australian Road Assessment Program (AusRAP).

The two men, aged in their 40s and 50s, were driving in separate cars when they crashed head-on on the Bruce Hwy at Owanyilla on the Fraser Coast. Picture: 7News

The Courier-Mail’s Help Our Highway campaign, which launched in April, showed almost half the Bruce Hwy failed basic safety ratings.

Just 10 per cent was assessed as extremely safe, with sections in regional Queensland the worst danger zones.

Professor Narelle Haworth from the Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety-Queensland (CARRS-Q) said it was very concerning the highway included areas that were rated only one star.

“The Bruce Hwy is part of our national network around Australia. It’s the link between Brisbane and the north of Queensland between Brisbane and Cairns and therefore it should be of a high standard,” she said.

“A two-star road has basically double the number of crashes per amount of use of a three star road and a three star is considered to be acceptable.

“So if it’s a one-star section then it’s at least four times the crash rate of a three-star road.”

Prof Haworth said if road infrastructure could not be upgraded in a reasonable time frame the corresponding speed should be dropped.

Part of the detour around the crash scene was a narrow dirt road with very soggy edges. Picture Facebook

“A one-star or two-star rating is possibly acceptable on a road in the middle of nowhere that gets almost no traffic, but we’re talking about that sort of major lifeline between Brisbane and the rest of Queensland and the north of Queensland,” she said.

“It should be prioritised for improvement, it should never be as bad as one or two stars.”

Transport and Main Roads Minister Brent Mickelberg said Queenslanders should not have to wake up every day to hear about more deaths on the Bruce Hwy.

“This is a tragic reminder of what is at stake,” he said.

“The Crisafulli government has already begun laying the groundwork to improve safety on the Bruce Hwy for Queenslanders with the re-establishment of the Bruce Highway Advisory Council.

“I will continue to advocate with the federal government for a 80:20 funding (split) for the Bruce Hwy to enhance safety for all motorists.

“Too many Queenslanders are losing their lives on the Bruce Hwy and every life cut short leaves a permanent mark on families and a devastating impact on the entire community.”