‘We are in the midst of a road death crisis’: RACQ call for road safety upgrade funding

RACQ Head of Public Policy Rebecca Michael said with 90 people killed so far this year, up 26 percent on last year, it was time the Federal Government dug deep for regional Queensland.

RACQ call for funding amid ‘road death crisis’. File photo: Supplied.

This year has bore witness to numerous tragedies on Queensland roads and unfortunately the Wide Bay is no exception.

RACQ has called on the Federal Government to commit desperately needed funding in the upcoming Budget to fast-track vital road safety upgrades and halt the growing number of lives being lost on Queensland roads.

RACQ Head of Public Policy Rebecca Michael said with 90 people killed so far this year, up 26 percent on last year, it was time the Federal Government dug deep for regional Queensland.

“We are in the midst of a road death crisis and, unless we act, we’ll continue to see Queenslanders killed in largely preventable crashes every week,” Dr Michael said.

“The Bruce Highway is our main arterial route connecting regional Queensland with the south east and accounts for a huge number of fatal and serious crashes, so we’re calling on the Morrison Government to increase and fast-track safety, capacity and flood upgrades to the Bruce from $800 million to $1.2 billion each year.”

Dr Michael said duplication of the highway between Cooroy and Gympie and other low-cost, high-impact safety upgrades, like safety barriers, wide centre lines and improved turn lanes at intersections, had been proven to save lives.

“The Cooroy to Gympie improvements under the Bruce Highway upgrade program is proof investment in regional roads will help keep Queenslanders alive,” she said.

“Along this stretch of the highway between 2005 and 2009 we saw 22 people killed, but since the upgrades, not a single life has been lost.

“We also urge the Government to commit to its share of the Inland Highway project between Charters Towers and Mungindi, so we have an alternative to the Bruce Highway when it floods or is cut by crashes or other incidents.

“In addition, we want to see an extra $2 billion allocated towards the vital Federal Road Safety Program, so it goes beyond the next two years, saves more lives and prevents serious injuries.

“Driving down the shocking death and serious injury rates on our roads will come down to three factors – safer drivers, safer cars and safer roads.

“That’s why we’re calling on our Federal leaders to step up for road safety and help stop this crisis.”

RACQ’s Federal Budget priorities can be seen here.