A safer Capricorn Highway sooner

Red light and speed camera fines will be invested in a $2 million fatigue management strategy on the Capricorn Highway under the $46 million Safer Roads Sooner program, Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Paul Lucas, announced today.

“This life saving strategy includes road signage warning of the dire consequences of driving tired.

“We’re adding reflective markers and guide posts, and building more roadside car and truck stopping areas along the highway,” Mr Lucas said.

The fatigue management improvements on the Capricorn Highway are among 77 high priority projects worth more than $46 million approved by the Safer Roads Sooner Ministerial Advisory Committee chaired by Parliamentary Secretary for Main Roads, Andrew McNamara.

“With Safer Roads Sooner the primary focus is projects with potential to reduce the state’s road toll.

“The committee has targeted projects which will make the biggest impact on road safety,” Mr McNamara said.

In all, a total of 261 projects have been made possible by the Beattie Government’s Safer Road Sooner program since beginning in 2005.

Professor Mary Sheehan from Queensland University of Technology's accident research group, CARRS-Q and the RACQ are among the committee’s panel of road safety experts and key project decision makers.

Member for Fitzroy, Jim Pearce, said the Capricorn Highway had been under pressure with increasing numbers of long shift mining workers travelling to and from the coast.

“More and more we’re seeing fatigue related accidents on the Capricorn Highway with head on crashes and vehicles running off the road.

“The fatigue management works on the highway will make a significant difference to safety on this vital mining connector road, “Mr Pearce said.

Mr Lucas said the Safer Roads Sooner strategy aims to reduce Queensland's road toll through smart targeted investment in better road infrastructure.

“What the Safer Roads Sooner program does is clearly demonstrate the money we take in fines from motorists caught by speed and red light cameras is being invested in the network to save lives and reduce serious life changing injuries.

“We’re putting the proceeds of traffic fines to work on building safer roads.

“More than half of the third round of Safer Roads Sooner program is being spent outside of south-east Queensland,” Mr Lucas said.