Bay’s bingle strip tops the roads to disaster

SANDY Bay Rd has again been given the dubious honour of being Hobart’s worst hot spot for crashes, according to a major insurer.

It is the second successive year the road has topped the list of crash-prone areas in Hobart as part of AAMI’s Crash Index. The Brooker Highway came in second.

The study analysed more than 340,000 motor vehicle accident insurance claims across the country from July 1 last year to June 30 this year to come up with the list.

Vermey’s Quality Meats is located on Sandy Bay Rd near the King St intersection and owner Marcus Vermey said he was not surprised at the results.

“You see the confusion of people not knowing how to get around the corners here without arrows, or just running red lights,’’ he said.

“There’s so much more cars on the road, including single persons in a vehicle, which just blocks it up.”

Mr Vermey called for a red light camera at the intersection and a reduction in the 50km/h speed limit.

Independent Clark MP Madeleine Ogilvie raised the report during Question Time yesterday, calling on Infrastructure and Transport Minister Michael Ferguson to get Sandy Bay Rd and the Brooker Highway into the major projects pipeline. “We just want to get to work and school safely and on time,’’ Ms Ogilvie said.

Mr Ferguson said the Government was delivering on a plan to bust congestion, including clearways and a fleet of tow trucks to respond to crashes.

AAMI’s head of motor claims Anna Cartwright said Sandy Bay Rd was on the list for the third consecutive year.

“Sandy Bay Road is mostly one lane in each direction, with some turning lanes, and has many suburban streets feeding into it, meaning traffic can get very congested during peak periods. This is a recipe for disaster for drivers,’’ she said.

“The Brooker Highway at Hobart has jumped up to second on the list — up from fourth last year.

“Like Sandy Bay Road this is a main arterial in and out of the CBD, making it very busy with commuters.”

Two new locations made the top 10 this year — the Tasman Highway at Hobart (6) and the Channel Highway at Kingston (10).