The Gold Coast Bulletin

RAIN BRINGS PAIN TO COAST’S ROADS

- LUKE MORTIMER

TOW truck drivers have been “bloody flat out” as rain blanketing the Gold Coast causes chaos on the region’s roads.

James Eldridge of Midcoast Towing said his colleagues had already attended up to 30 incidents so far this week, ranging from prangs to more serious crashes.

Midcoast has a full crew of eight drivers on the road to cope with the spike in incidents as the rain keeps bucketing down.

Many of the jobs drivers attended were nose-to-tail – largely caused by motorists failing to leave a buffer zone around their vehicles in the wet.

“The phones just haven’t stopped. It’s mostly minor nose-to-tails and that sort of thing,” Mr Eldridge said.

“It’s the congestion too, people merging and just not leaving enough space or paying attention.

“It’s always flat out during the wet weather. Especially the motorway, Smith Street and Ormeau. It’s always busy there during the wet weather.

“And then you get the more serious ones out the back roads, out Tamborine Mountain.”

Mr Eldridge said it could be dicey going to jobs in the rain and he’s almost been “clipped by trucks”.

There is little relief in sight for motorists, with more rain forecast until at least Sunday.

The Bureau of Meteorolog­y has predicted drizzling rain throughout today, with temperatur­es around 22C.

Yesterday, heavy rain fell across the city, with 61mm landing at Coolangatt­a over 24 hours marking the wettest day for the suburb this year.

Currumbin recorded 55mm, Coomera 51mm and 40mm fell at the Seaway.

 ?? Picture: JERAD WILLIAMS ?? Yvonne Giesa from Germany doesn’t let the rain and cold dampen her spirits at Surfers Paradise.
Picture: JERAD WILLIAMS Yvonne Giesa from Germany doesn’t let the rain and cold dampen her spirits at Surfers Paradise.

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