LET’S hope the three recent crashes on the Mitchell Highway at Dunkeld prove to be an unfortunate statistical anomaly.
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Those three crashes, including Tuesday afternoon’s collision between a camper van and utility, have focused community attention on that section of road.
Naturally, questions have been asked about what can be done to avoid future accidents but, at this stage at least, it seems not a lot.
Of course, every road can be made safer by introducing dual lanes, but Roads and Maritime Services crash statistics don’t support that sort of outlay.
There were just 14 crashes recorded at Dunkeld in the 10 years to the end of 2013, an average of just one every eight or nine months.
In fact, RMS figures show that The Rocks area just a few kilometres further west of Bathurst has a far worse crash history.
But the NSW Government has recognised that reality, and this year spent more than $4 million to upgrade that section of road, improving curves, sealing road shoulders and installing safety barriers to reduce the risk of vehicles running off the road.
Road safety experts also point out that each of the last three crashes can be attributed to driver error of some sort, and no amount of money spent on the road surface can counter human mistakes.
Instead, the best solution at this stage seems to be a concerted effort to remind drivers of the need for constant vigilance when behind the wheel – particularly at this time of year.
Accidents can happen in the blink of an eye and when cars are racing in opposite directions at 100km/h – as they are on the Mitchell Highway – a small mistake can quickly become a tragedy.
No community would ever knock back an offer of more government spending on local roads, but nor should we push for kneejerk reactions that will deliver no long-term benefits.
Before we rush to demand action be taken at the Mitchell Highway at Dunkeld, we must determine what action is appropriate.
And that might be as simple as reminding all drivers of just what’s at stake every time we hit the road.