NRMA MEDIA RELEASE

08 July 2002

Princes Highway crash rate demands more federal funding

An audit of the Princes Highway has found that the quality of the road has improved but the road's safety record has deteriorated at the same time - with crash rates up 17 per cent since 1997.

National Roads and Motorists' Association Limited (NRMA) CEO, Mr Rob Carter, said some sections of the Princes Highway need immediate attention by the Federal Government to arrest the upward trend in deaths and injuries.

"It's disappointing that the crash rates have increased 17 per cent since NRMA last audited the Princes Highway in 1997," Mr Carter said.

"This recent increase is tempered by the fact that the crash rate almost halved in between 1990 and 1997 - down 45 per cent from 57.5 in 1990."

The main findings of the audit are:

The crash rate, which is calculated as the number of crashes per 100 million vehicle kilometres travelled, rose from 31.6 in 1997 to 37 in 2002.

The fatality rate, expressed as the number of deaths per 100 million vehicle kilometres travelled, rose from 0.57 deaths in 1997 to 0.92 deaths in 2000. In 1990, the fatality rate was 1.37.

Fatalities increased from nine deaths after NRMA's last audit in 1997 to a recent high of 22 deaths in 1999. Fifteen people were killed on the road in 2001.

Combined fatalities and injuries are climbing - from 404 in 1997 to 516 in 2001, reflected in a rise in the casualty rate from 20.7 in 1997 to 23.5 in 2000 - an increase of 14 per cent.

Running off the road on a curve and rear-end collisions are the two most common causes of crashes, together accounting for almost half of all crashes (24 per cent each).

Mr Carter said in spite of the increase in fatalities and casualties there had been significant improvements to the Princes Highway since 1997 including:

Safe overtaking opportunities almost doubled - from 37 per cent up to 64 per cent.
Better speed limit signage, with signs increasing from 125 to 169.

Dangerous curves reduced, with 34 curves signposted at 35km/hr or more below speed limit - down from 58 in 1997.
A reduction in narrow road shoulders less than one metre wide, from 13 per cent down to 3 per cent.

Mr Carter said the Federal Government needed to recognise that the Princes Highway was a critical link between Sydney, Wollongong and communities along the South Coast, connecting to Main Road 92.

"More federal funding is justified north of Nowra to enable the Princes Highway to form a strategic link between Main Road 92 and the rest of the National Highway system," Mr Carter said.

"Local communities along the Prince Highway are suffering from a lack of federal funding - apart from funds for the North Kiama Bypass, which were delayed in the 2002-03 Federal Budget," Mr Carter said.

"The longer it takes to fix the road, the greater the chance that crashes, injuries and deaths will continue to devastate local communities.

"The State Government has committed $380 million to upgrade the Princes Highway and is spending more than $37 million next financial year to continue the North Kiama Bypass and plans for the Oak Flats to Dunmore section.

"Federal funding would allow for a comprehensive program of works, including major infrastructure improvements such as the North Kiama Bypass as well as local road upgrades - better road alignments and shoulders and clear zones beside the roadway," Mr Carter said.

For a copy of NRMA's 2002 survey of the Princes Highway, please contact Georgina Woodcock at NRMA on (02) 9292 8528.