Deadly Warrego: Serious injury crashes on the rise

QUEENSLAND police statistics show the number of crashes on the Warrego Highway resulting in serious injury has risen by 30 per cent over the past three years.

Seven people were killed and a further 103 seriously injured in crashes on the Warrego Highway last year. Picture: Richard Coombs

ALARMING Queensland police statistics show the number of crashes on the Warrego Highway resulting in serious injury has risen by 30 per cent over the past three years.

The figures relate to crashes which occurred on the Warrego Highway between Ipswich and Roma.

Last year, of the 285 reported crashes on the Warrego Highway, nearly 40 per cent resulted in serious injury.

The statistics show the number of fatal crashes over the same period has remained steady.

The much-maligned road claimed seven lives last year, six in 2011 and eight in 2010.

All of the seven fatalities last year occurred within a 50 kilometre radius of Toowoomba.

Those figures do not include crashes resulting in death that occurred at intersections with the Warrego Highway.

A 19-year-old man is still recovering from injuries sustained in this horror crash on the Warrego Highway near Oakey last year. Picture: Bev Lacey

Senior traffic and safety engineer Greg Miszkowycz of the RACQ said the Warrego Highway had a poor record when it came to crashes resulting in casualties.

"The figures are very concerning to say the least," Mr Miszkowycz said.

"Historically, the highway has had a very poor record in relation to crashes.

"There is a high volume of traffic using the road, especially heavy vehicles.

"Furthermore, the highway has a high frequency of intersections which pose a risk to motorists," he said.

Mr Miszkowycz said the highway was rated as one of the worst in the national network.

"There is no denying the fact the Warrego Highway is an extremely dangerous road," he said.

"In terms of traffic growth and volumes, it is the fastest growing corridor in the national network.

"Our data suggests the Warrego Highway is one of the worst road links in the national highway network."

Southern Region Traffic Inspector Bruce Dimond said police investigations revealed inattention, fatigue, road conditions and speed were contributing factors in a number of crashes.

"People need to drive to the road conditions. It is a very busy road with a high volume of heavy vehicles," Insp. Dimond said.

"Almost all the crashes on the Warrego Highway were preventable.

"Mostly they have been caused by driver behaviour.

"A number of the people who have been killed were not wearing seatbelts," he said.

Inspector Dimond has urged motorists using the road to drive cautiously.

"People need to drive defensively. Often it is the people who are driving safely who are the ones killed due to the actions of others," he said.

"Motorists need to look past their bonnets and look ahead to identify any potential dangers."

Originally published as Deadly Warrego: Serious injury crashes on the rise