Care urged on horror stretch
MORE overtaking and slip lanes will be built on the notorious Mackay to Proserpine stretch of the Bruce Highway which has claimed 11 lives this year.
Mackay
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MORE overtaking and slip lanes will be built on the notorious Mackay to Proserpine stretch of the Bruce Highway which has claimed 11 lives this year.
RACQ regional manager Bob Sim said The Department of Main Roads and Queensland Transport had identified the section of road as a blackspot and were working on several strategies to make it safer.
''Certainly more places to overtake will make a big difference,'' he said.
''It's a very busy section of the highway and with haulout vehicles, caravans, semitrailers and the increased traffic during the holidays it is a stretch of road which needs attention.
''More lanes will make it easier for people who want to overtake these vehicles.''
The section of highway claimed another life on Thursday after Mackay man Chris Watson died and three others were injured in an accident near Kuttabul.
One of the injured men is still in hospital in a stable condition with arm and jaw fractures and internal injuries. He was a passenger in the car driven by Mr Watson which rolled after apparently swerving to avoid a vehicle turning right into Narpi School Road about 8am.
A New Zealand man, Gary Cole, was killed near Calen, only 20km from the site of the first accident, when the tractor he was driving collided with a coal train about 2.15pm on Thursday.
Mr Sim said he would not comment on the accidents as he was yet to be briefed about them.
Police are urging motorists to pay care and attention when driving over the remaining weekend of the school holidays.
Sergeant Steve Shanks of Mackay police traffic branch said not all accidents were caused by the fatal four ? speeding, drink driving, driving tired and not wearing a seat belt.
''We want the public to understand that inattention can also be fatal on the road,'' he said.
Police would be out in force over the remainder of the holidays especially in known blackspots, he said.
Originally published as Care urged on horror stretch
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