Shocking reality of Australia’s rural, regional roads

Aussie roads are known to be dangerous at the best of times but there is an even more terrifying reality.

Fatalities on rural and regional roads account for the bulk of the nation’s road toll, with a shocking seven out of 10 deaths on Queensland roads in 2023 occurring in country areas.

Startling new figures released by the Australian Road Safety Foundation (ARSF) show that two-thirds of the 811 people - including 193 Queenslanders - who died in road incidents across the nation last year were involved in crashes on rural and regional roads.

Meanwhile 60 of the 92 lives lost in collisions involving heavy vehicles between January and July this year were also on country roads.

The horrifying stats have been released as the ARSF on Sunday kicked off its Rural Road Safety Month, a national campaign designed to highlight the dangers on regional and rural roads.

“We are urging all Queensland residents to prioritise safety, especially during Rural Road Safety Month,” ARSF founder Russell White said.

“By choosing to put safety first and undertaking simple actions, such as planning routes, taking rest breaks, and avoiding distractions, we can prevent death or serious injury on the road.”

A screenshot from a video showing the aftermath of a fatal crash on the Bruce Highway at Bororen on Friday, when a truck carrying ammonium nitrate collided with a ute. Source: Supplied

Sal Petroccitto from the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) said Rural Road Safety Month was a sombre reminder of what’s at stake for those regularly driving on regional roads.

“We want to remind all motorists, whether they are heavy vehicle drivers or light vehicle drivers, that they really do need to take that extra level of caution when travelling on those particular roads or networks,” he said.

NHVR chief executive Sal Petroccitto. Picture: Supplied

Mr Petroccitto said NHVR welcomed greater government investment in improving regional corridors, including the Bruce Highway.

“Any increased investment on those corridors that improves the way heavy vehicle or even light vehicle drivers can drive them, we would strongly welcome, and we would strongly support,” Mr Petroccitto said.

Truck driver and road transport and safety advocate Rod Hannifey said all drivers need to be mindful of the conditions on regional roads.

“People are very impatient now that the pace of life is different from what it used to be. Everybody’s got to be there yesterday, they’ve got to overtake. It is just ridiculous,” Mr Hannifey said.

“On those long trips when you’re not used to doing it, plan ahead, but be flexible, and for goodness sake, don’t park in the truck bay and take up our room.

“There needs to be some respect for the size and weight of a truck. It takes more room to stop, to turn, to get round corners, it takes a bit longer to get going.”