No room for error on highway

ROAD SAFETY

THE state of the Arthur Highway/goat track between Forcett and the Primrose Sands turn-off is appalling and dangerous. Being a single lane, it does not provide the motorist with the opportunity to avoid large holes and water flooding across sections due to the very poor infrastructure drainage.

This road is carrying very heavy transport which it certainly was not designed or built to carry.

Mainland tourists who flock to Tasmania will certainly criticise this track, along with the high cost of accommodation, meals and petrol in this state. Tassie has a lot to offer but well built road infrastructure on the Tasman Peninsula is not one of the highlights.

RISK: Not designed for heavy vehicles.

easier to follow this: In dry, clear weather maintain one car length between vehicles for every 20km of speed. In wet, frosty or dismal conditions maintain one car length for every 15km of speed. Among most drivers in our rural communities there is a mutual respect for distance between vehicles. In today’s fast world we have lost sight of some very important factors.

Our devices tell us that it will only take you 20 minutes to go from A to B. We think, yes, 20 minutes, I start work at 9am so I can leave at 8.40am. The frustration of hold-ups to drivers following that line of thinking is creating extremely dangerous behaviour. A flat tyre, an accident ahead of you, congestion, a tree across the road or a driver ahead of you who drives to conditions may add extra minutes. There can never be too much education. If we factor in a few extra minutes for our journeys our roads could well be a safer place.