#roadusers

Aim: to create a social media network to bring awareness to road users of the consequences if you drive like a moron on the Kings Highway. 

The idea came about after writing a letter to Mr John Barilaro after a recent publication in the Canberra Times ( http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/our-long-weekend-of-tragedy-20120312-1uwrm.html#ixzz1oxDepirQ) reporting on the long weekend Kings Highway tragedies.

The Letter follows.

13 March 2012

 Dear Mr Barilaro, 

  Re: The Kings Highway and the recent long weekend tragedies.  

  2 fatal accidents in 1 long weekend - It is obvious that there is a high degree of danger for motorists travelling on this road. I know you travel frequently as I regularly see your car passing through Braidwood, even stopping occasionally where I served you an ice cream at The Boiled Lolly. You must be aware of the condition of the road and the attitude of drivers who utilise it. 

I am 19 years old and have lived in Braidwood for 4 years. I work at The Boiled Lolly, study Full Time at The University of Canberra and referee Premier League soccer in Canberra for Capital Football. This mix requires a lot of travel to and from Braidwood to Canberra - on average spending 8 - 14 hours a week on the Kings Highway.  

Having been in a car accident myself and received a speeding fine on the Kings Highway, I realise what it takes and the mindset of drivers who travel this road. Wanting to get home in a rush - the road is long and straight - you speed. Overtaking cars in areas which are marked with broken lines  - even though with a reasonable state of mind you would consider otherwise. Driving whilst tired –you fiddle with the radio or tune out to the required responsiveness needed for driving. This mix is dangerous and is part of the underlying reason for the state of tragedies over the weekend and the terrible history of this road. 

We can blame the state of the road - the curves, the hills and narrow passes, roadside hazards - or we can focus on driver awareness, education, trip planning perception of distances and speeds. 

"NRMA director ACT and Southern NSW Alan Evans said it would cost $400 to $500 million to bring the Kings Highway up to a suitable standard to cope with traffic growth. This would include bypassing Bungendore and Braidwood, realigning curves and more passing lanes." 

We could utilise this method and spend a fortune on one road and impact on the economy of two towns or implement a more direct method that links the safety of drivers to their skills and knowledge by:

•    Understanding the condition of the road and the appropriate driving techniques

•    Realising the concept of speed and length perception  - essential for navigating corners, overtaking vehicles and stopping distances

•    Adapting the correct mindset for when the road is bumper-to-bumper - realising to relax and stay calm and that driving 10km/h faster doesn't result in your arrival time being less! 

•    Planning your trip to avoid times of fatigue and heavy traffic.

Not denying that the road needs upgrading to cope with the growing traffic numbers, but it does not need to be done in one whole heap of expenditure. The condition of the road equates for half the reasons for the fatalities and crashes resulting in serious injuries. As stated in the ROADSIDE HAZARDS ON THE KINGS HIGHWAY NEAR BRAIDWOOD DISCUSSION PAPER SEPTEMBER 2011by the RTA (RTA/PUB.11.411 ISBN 978-1-921766-04-6) half the crashes on the Kings Highway resulted from a roadside hazard. 

There shouldn't be a price on people’s safety or lives, but unfortunately there is. Therefore, a cost-effective remedy is to better equip users of the Kings Highway with the skills and knowledge outlined above. This should be put in place with gradual upgrades of the road:

•    Safety barriers along stretches of roadside hazards

•    Better designed over-taking lanes that utilise the gradient and curves of the road 

•    Revised road markings (as the trees grow, the visibility reduces for corners where there are broken lines marking availability to overtake)

•    Revised placement of speed limit signs

•    Installation of average speed cameras

•    Installation of LED variable speed limit signs

•    Areas along the road to pull over and stop.