Deadly crashes force speed drop on Brinktop Rd
THE speed limit along a notorious stretch of road in southern Tasmania will be restricted to 80km/h in the wake of a horror crash which killed a mother and son last month.
The crash on Brinktop Rd occurred on May 10 after the Daewoo in which Teresa Brown and her son Jim were travelling in was forced to take evasive action when a Toyota HiLux allegedly drifted on to the wrong side of the road.
The Daewoo then collided with a Holden Cruze coming in the opposite direction.
The two passengers in the Holden were taken to hospital but Mrs Brown and her son, in the Daewoo, were killed.
A separate fatal crash occurred on Brinktop Rd on April 30, while yet another crash on the same road the following day left a female passenger in hospital with serious injuries.
The incidents led to calls for upgrades to Brinktop Rd, near Richmond, to make it safer.
From Monday, the speed limit will drop to a maximum of 80km/h.
“Brinktop Rd has seen a steady increase in traffic over
recent years and the safety of our community is a priority,” the Sorell Council announced on social media.
“A request was made to the Commissioner of Transport to reduce the speed limit on the entire length of Brinktop Rd, to 80km/h.
“New speed limit signs will be installed at either end of Brinktop Rd, as well as at two kilometre intervals, to remind drivers of the new speed limit.”
In a joint statement, Sorell mayor Kerry Vincent and acting Clarence mayor Heather Chong said the speed limit change was needed to improve community safety.
“We’re pleased that this change will come into effect on Monday and believe the outcome will be a safer stretch of road for all Tasmanians in the future,” they said.