Thuringowa Drive safer sooner

Red light and speed camera fines are being invested in $200,000 of safety improvements on Thuringowa Drive, Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Paul Lucas, and Natural Resources Minister and Member for Thuringowa, Craig Wallace, said today.

“A pedestrian refuge on the northern side of Carthew Street forms the cornerstone of the upgrade.

“But will also include kerb extensions as well as highly visible road markings and signage.

“This important safety makeover is being paid for in part by motorists who’ve been fined for red light or speed camera offences,” Mr Lucas said.

Thuringowa Drive is one of 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, and Member for Hervey Bay, Andrew McNamara.

“The primary focus of the Safer Roads Sooner program 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.

Mr Wallace said the upgrade would make the area adjacent to Willows Shopping Centre more pedestrian friendly.

“Accessing the shopping centre from the other side of Thuringowa Drive is about to become a lot easier and safer, particularly people using wheelchairs.

“Currently they have little choice but to use signals further along Thuringowa Drive and then make their way along the road shoulder against the traffic,” Mr Wallace said.

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

“This program clearly demonstrates the money we take in fines from motorists caught by red light and speed cameras is being invested in the road 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 is being spent outside of south-east Queensland,” Mr Lucas said.