Focus on rural road incidents

TOOWOOMBA truckie Nat Barton has seen more nearmisses while out on regional roads than most drivers would see in their lifetime.

“People overtake in situations they shouldn’t, even on double lines and they speed in conditions where the road has a number of hidden obstacles; it’s just crazy,” he said.

It’s why Mr Barton and his employer Lowes Petroleum are getting hehind Rural Road Safety Month, which was launched by the Australian Road Safety Foundation in Tamworth this week

Lowes, a regional fuel transporter, erected a three-metre inflatable fuel truck along Anzac Avenue to draw awareness to the issue.

CEO Cameron White said two out of three motoring deaths last year occurred on rural roads.

“With Covid restricting air travel, almost half of Australians are planning a driving holiday – more traffic on rural roads simply increases the risk for every driver on rural roads,” he said.

“There’s the temptation to finish the journey, perhaps drive that extra hour while fatigued or speed.

“Often there’s a perception that driving on country roads has less risk: that perception is wrong and that’s why we’re joining the ASRF to raise awareness of Rural Road Safety.”