The 5 Most Dangerous Roads Near Queensland
As a commercial driver, you may feel confident navigating familiar streets in your area. You may have to frequently pick up and deliver shipments from local warehouses and manoeuvre through tight streets as part of your regular routine.
But on occasion, you may have to drive across the country to reach your destination. And these lengthier stretches of unfamiliar road may pose a challenge for even the most capable driver.
The following roads, in particular, have some of the highest crash rates in Australia, so be sure to exercise a little caution as you sit behind the steering wheel.
1. Brisbane Valley Highway
The road between Ipswich and Esk has given residents more than their fair share of grief. In fact, over 400 residents signed a petition that urged the government to upgrade the road.
The dreadful conditions eventually led Jim Madden to invest $1.65 million in road rehabilitation, but removing the existing road's surface and replacing it with smoother asphalt will take time.
As a result, you may have to face patchy conditions on top of road construction, closures and last-minute lane changes as you travel.
2. Bruce Highway
The Australian Automobile Association ranked Bruce Highway between Cooroy and Gympie as one of the most dangerous stretches of road in Australia, not just Queensland. The road saw the highest level of trauma and accounted for almost 61 per cent of deaths from 2005 to 2009.
Due to poor weather in the area, flooding frequently cuts off supplies from local communities. And multiple parts of the road require complete shutdown for more than 48 hours. The uneven tracks often run alongside sheer drops more than 1,000 metres high. And even worse, police scarcely monitor the road, so drivers have an increased risk of attack by armed bandits.
3. Warrego Highway
Warrego fatalities and casualties have risen in recent years, with over 285 reported crashes and 40 per cent of those crashes resulting in serious injury.
The highway sees a lot of traffic from residential vehicles as well as a large number of heavier commercial vehicles. Many parts of the highway include busy intersections with high speed limits. And police reports indicate the area has a high number of distracted, fatigued drivers who pay little attention to the road's conditions. As a result, even individuals who drive safely suffer fatalities and injury due to others' actions.
4. D'Aguilar Highway
The road between Ipswich and Esk has given residents more than their fair share of grief. In fact, over 400 residents signed a petition that urged the government to upgrade the road.
The dreadful conditions eventually led Jim Madden to invest $1.65 million in road rehabilitation, but removing the existing road's surface and replacing it with smoother asphalt will take time.
As a result, you may have to face patchy conditions on top of road construction, closures and last-minute lane changes as you travel.
3. Warrego Highway
Warrego fatalities and casualties have risen in recent years, with over 285 reported crashes and 40 per cent of those crashes resulting in serious injury.
The highway sees a lot of traffic from residential vehicles as well as a large number of heavier commercial vehicles. Many parts of the highway include busy intersections with high speed limits. And police reports indicate the area has a high number of distracted, fatigued drivers who pay little attention to the road's conditions. As a result, even individuals who drive safely suffer fatalities and injury due to others' actions.
Do You Have to Drive These Roads?
Although these highways present their own risks, you can take steps to ensure your next trip goes smoothly. As with any long haul, make sure to adjust your speed around sharp bends and during inclement weather. And remember to save the number of a commercial towing company to your phone. If you do end up driving off any of these roads, you want to have access to help as soon as possible.