Horror Gold Coast Pacific Motorway crashes could be avoided if politicians stop arguing over funding

SOME parts of the Pacific Motorway between the Gold Coast and Brisbane are too dangerous for police to patrol, say officers.

SOME parts of the Pacific Motorway between the Gold Coast and Brisbane are too dangerous for police to patrol, say officers.

The situation is so bad the RACQ will not allow its breakdown mechanics to fix cars on the shoulder of the highway.

The situation is so bad the RACQ will not allow its breakdown mechanics to fix cars on the shoulder of the highway. Picture Glenn Hampson

The comments come in the wake of a horror accident yesterday in which two highway patrol police were almost killed when their patrol car was clipped by a truck, catapulting the stationary vehicle into a roadside barrier.

The officers had just issued a fine to a driver when the accident happened at Helensvale, once again locking up the major road link in gridlock for hours.

Two highway patrol police were almost killed when their patrol car was clipped by a truck, catapulting the stationary vehicle into a roadside barrier. Photo: David Clark

Police said it was a miracle no one had been killed and called for more “static options” such as fixed speed cameras on the M1, rather than continuing to put officers’ lives at risk pulling vehicles over on to narrow shoulders.

“The road (in some sections) is not designed for traffic enforcement,” said a police source.

“The shoulders are very limited — that’s why you don’t see too many police out on the M1.

“You are damned if you do and damned if you don’t (undertake enforcement).

“Static cameras are the only way to do it.

“If you were out changing a tyre on the highway you could be splattered.”

In December 2012, four people sitting in a broken down car in the safety lane at Coomera died when their vehicle burst into flames after being rammed by another car.

The RACQ says it will not let its staff repair vehicles on the shoulder of the highway.

Accident on the M1 motorway involving a police car and a truck Photo: David Clark

The motoring organisation’s executive general manager advocacy Paul Turner said strict rules had been introduced on vehicle removal on the M1 as part of contract work with the council and government.

“We don’t do repairs on the M1 — it’s 110km/h,” he said.

“It’s all about safety.

“We absolutely understand the challenge for police.”

The RACQ uses a special truck with a trailer which acts a crash barrier to protect its drivers who have to recover stalled vehicles.

Mr turner said an RACQ vehicle had been hit on the M1 in the past week as mechanics tried to remove a car.

“That’s why we’re spending so much time asking motorists to slow down,’ he said.

“We are doing a lot of work with Queensland police to get a big sign on trucks to get motorists to see it.”

Coast MPs say newer sections of the highway have larger shoulders but work on older sections is being delayed because of a funding war between the State and Federal governments, highlighted in the Bulletin’s Fair Go campaign. Picture Glenn Hampson

Coast MPs say newer sections of the highway have larger shoulders but work on older sections is being delayed because of a funding war between the State and Federal governments, highlighted in the Bulletin’s Fair Go campaign.

Mudgeeraba MP Ros Bates said the upgraded section of the highway between Nerang and Robina had increased shoulder widths.

“I imagine the problem is further north where outside the eight lanes may well not be wide enough in some areas,” she said.

“That’s why we have had fatalities when people have pulled over to change tyres.”

Ms Bates acknowledged the width of the M1 on the southern Coast section to Reedy Creek needed to be addressed.

“We absolutely understand the challenge for police,” RACQ spokesman Paul Turner. Picture Glenn Hampson

That upgrade would depend on the State Government agreeing to a fund a 50-50 agreement with the Commonwealth and she said she believed Labor did not have the money.

A Road Policing Unit spokesman said they would not review whether they should or should not continue direct enforcement on the M1, but an investigation into yesterday’s crash was under way.

Emergency Services at an accident involving a police car and a truck just past Helensvale in the Southbound lanes on the M1. Picture Glenn Hampson.