$4.3 million wake-up call for Border road safety.

Motorists of the Border region will benefit from speed and red light camera fines with local roads receiving a $4.3 million road safety wake up call, Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Paul Lucas, announced today.

“Six projects in the Warwick and Border area are among 77 high priority road safety initiatives to share in more than $46 million statewide under the Beattie Government’s Safer Roads Sooner program.

“It puts fines collected from motorists for speed and red light camera offences back into road safety to save lives,” Mr Lucas said.

Safer Roads Sooner funding for Warwick and the Border in 2008-09 include:

·$1m in 2008-09 for fatigue counter-measures on the Barwon Highway in Waggamba Shire. Works involve shoulder widening and installing fatigue and shoulder drop-off warning signs.

·$1m over two years from 2007-08 on the Cunningham Highway in Waggamba Shire. Works involve installing two heavy vehicle rest stops between Yelarbon and Goondiwindi.

·$1.05m in 2008-09 for fatigue counter-measures on the Moonie Highway in Tara Shire. Works involve removing roadside hazards and installing fatigue signage.

·$250,000 over two years from 2007-08 for fatigue counter-measures on satellite towns around Warwick on Warwick-Killarney, Warwick-Allora, Yangan Killarney, Freestone, and Leyburn-Cunningham Roads. Works involve installing fatigue signage and improving road markings.

·$500,000 over two years from 2007-08 on the Leichhardt Highway in Tara Shire. Works involve installing a truck rest area in the Murri Murri to The Gums area.

·$500,000 over two years from 2007-08 on the Moonie Highway in Tara Shire. Works involve installing a truck rest area.

261 safety projects in total have been approved since 2005 by the Safer Roads Sooner Ministerial Advisory Committee chaired by Parliamentary secretary for Main Roads, Andrew McNamara.

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 decision makers.

“To qualify for a share of the more than $46 million in funding, projects must have clear potential to help reduce the road toll.

“We’ve targeted projects which will make the biggest impact on road safety,” Mr McNamara said.

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

“The money we receive in fines from motorists who speed and run red lights is being spent where it can do the most good – saving lives and debilitating injuries on Queensland roads.

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

“Through Safer Roads Sooner we’re putting in place the added infrastructure

to help truck drivers meet their road safety obligations under the Queensland’s

landmark Heavy Vehicle Fatigue laws and improve safety for all road users.

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

“It’s a sound investment in the state’s future,” Mr Lucas said.


Media Contact:    Darren Roberts 0448 184566