Bruce Highway is closed between Childers and Maryborough 30/9/12

briche · Guru

Bruce Highway is closed between Childers and Maryborough 30/9/12

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

From what I could see on the TV news, the prang near Childers was pretty horrendous. It is never clear, but it did look like the 4X4 was on the wrong side and the truckie didn't have a chance. Apparently witness reports stated the 4X4 was seen swerving around on the road before the impact.

Thankfully it would appear they are beginning to upgrade the Bruce Hwy - but it is a long highway and it will take a long time, given how run-down it has become.

And I too drove the Tambo/Blackall/Barcaldine/Longreach road last week. Not in good nick for sure. But given the road-train traffic it is on a hiding to nothing to ever remain in any sort of condition.

Interestingly, the roadworks on the Barcaldine/Longreach stretch were excellent .... now if they repair the 'old highway' to the standard of the 'temporary' road beside the highway then the future is looking much better.

Let's hope Campbell doesn't cut back funding to State roads ... or cut back to councils for their roads.

And I too echo - slow it right down, take ya time, drive to the conditions ... stop if ya gotta - it ain't worth the trauma.

Cheers - John

-- Edited by rockylizard on Sunday 30th of September 2012 08:24:41 PM

Happywanderer · The Master

The Bruce Highways is closed and will be for the rest of the night after 5 people have been killed when a 4x4 was in a head on crash with a semi.

Happened at 3.30pm today. Police have said hwy will be closed the rest of the night.

jules47 · The Happy Helper

How tragic Marj - five people!!!!! How sad for the families, of the 4by and the truck driver.

Happywanderer · The Master

Yes, tragic. The 5 were all from the 4x4.
The truckdriver received cuts and abrasions.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

How many more before they do something about that highway. I know how the families feel and my thoughts are with them.

brickies · Guru

The driver of the B-Double looks like he did an amazing job finished well off the road still on his wheels not far from where 4 Wheel drive finished up , We must try to take a bit longer to get where we are going and get there alive, We no longer set unreal time frames we can't kept blaming roads and drive to situation and stay alive

milo · Guru

thats so sad

jules47 · The Happy Helper

Well said Brian (briche) - just because the speed sign says "100" - you don't have to do that!!! That is the top speed you should be doing at that place - but, we should all be driving to the conditions - of the road, the weather, our capabilities, our vehicles capabilities. Towing a van or boat adds another dimension which must be taken into consideration, which a lot of people don't do, obviously, from my observations.

Some of the "development" roads are absolutely woeful - they used to be called "beef roads" because the cattle trucks were the primary users, but now with so many people on the road all the time, touring, these roads are not really suitable for vehicles to be passing, I often think it must be scary for some who tow really large caravans, to be passed by a 3 trailer cattle truck - they do not slow down for anyone! They believe these "development" roads are THEIR roads. So we either get off or...???????????

As Brian says - please drive to stay alive!!!!!!

milo · Guru

something i just thought about while on our last travels
is that there is so much difference between country driving
and city driving and so many people on the road take un needed risks just to get there
i feel for the families involved

its like Brian said , if it takes another stop over to your destination , do it
we got to Gundagai on our way home from Swan Hill, and could have made it home in another
3 hours but i was too stuffed so we found a motel and came home the next day...

pauline · Guru

We are currently at Mackay working, hubby is a truck driver and since we have been here from June it has been horrendous the amount of accidents, and the majority of all of them are people having head ons with trucks and they are on the wrong side of the road.............what are the truckies supposed to do, I realise the highway needs upgrading badly but it really comes down to the drivers if they are on the wrong side of the road, we will be going in about 2 months and my husband says he just wants to get out of here alive, really is terrible up this way and very scarey.

jimbo · Guru

I am still of the belief that there is no where near enough decent rest spots along that Mongrel H/Way So rough I had to replace screws and bolts nuts in and around my Old Coaster Shaken lose by the bone jarring road...Should be renamed Death H?way.....Goes back to councils and there C/P owners who help contribute to this carnage.....

biggles · Senior Member

Hi Folks ..

I tend to agree with most comments seen here too .. After leaving Mareeba I chose to only travel down the Bruce as far as Bowen where I ventured inland to Lake Elphinstone, as the "Bruce" had already been subject to many recent accidents. Many of the "potholes" seen had already been "filled" as repairs to the last big wet up there but seemingly had not withstood the heavy traffic load the Bruce carries ..

Human error may prove to be the primary cause in this accident .. and that's what concerns me most !

I do my best to drive to the conditions which include my health status and the practical operating capability of my vehicle .. the physical road conditions .. the time of day .. the weather and the road traffic. These are all changing conditions and I try to adjust accordingly. Human error is an unknown factor, whether its the 1st or 100th vehicle you pass beside ..

There are times we can all no doubt recall when we have narrowly escaped from a "close call" of sorts, or have just been involved in a "bingle" .. apportioning blame is one of the first mindsets at times like this, but to me as I'm part of the equation, I search for my own failure which placed me in this situation.

If one is on a "timed" trip to be somewhere by a specific date or time, then that priority can easily over-ride commonsense when it comes to decision-making when driving to "conditions" ..

Despite all this .. I love it on the road. It gives me variety in life and access to all my friends wherever they may be in Oz .. but I do ask all to really drive to the conditions as best they can and with a confidence to do so .. We can only really do our best .. we can't control anothers attitude ..

Hope all this is not too heavy to take on board .. Happy Travels !

Jon

brickies · Guru

You're on the mark Jon the one thing that has stood out on our trip this time is the need for some people to always be the leader of the pack , If I am on the major highway and there are truck on the road I will travel at 100kph not to hold up the traffic , somebody often will pass you and just sit in front of you I think just so they are in front , And another the number of driver that take risks in passing on bends when we had just past a sign saying Passing lane 3 KLM ahead . The age of the people involved in the incident yesterday were aged from 63 to 75 years of age from Hervey bay and Forest Lake near Brisbane time should not have been important maybe a medical condition . We all could reflect on making sure we keep an eye of our health and have check up from time to time and take time to get where going without taking risks , If I get mixed up in heavy traffic at the first chance I get I pull over and let them all go .

mr glassies · Guru

and the pore truckie has to live with that for the rest of his life

dibs

Kiwi-as · Guru

I agree with all the comments. Just slow down and take your time. If traffic starts to build up behind you, first opportunity let them pass, either pulling over when room, or slowing on a straight. In the few months we have been on the road, have seen crazy overtaking in front of us. We are seriously looking into installing a camera to record traffic in front of us, prices start at around $50 . Good insurence for apportioning blame after an incident.

Kaid · Guru

We have had many interesting things happen on this journey.
Where possible we travel to the speed limit. In many cases
We have been passed by people towing caravans.
We were doing 100 ,anyone's guess what they were doing.
Been passed on double lines. The sign says 80 that is what we do.
Apparently that is only a suggested speed limit, coz
others don't think it applies to them.
Get passed with the obligatory finger , horn tooting and so on.
The highway accounts for alot But,
To have to get there before all others
Sadly some pay the price.
How heartbreaking for all concerned.
I wish we didn't have to go home that way

Happywanderer · The Master

This is a terrible situation. 3 from hervey bay, 2 from Forest Lakes in Brisbane. Aged from 62 through to 89 they are saying.
One report did say the 4x4 seemed to get the wobbles/swerving before the collision.
I can see now what what will come out of this. More talk about the oldies needing to be tested more often, medicals etc.

The main road through here (Biggenden) was very busy last night. I'm presuming it was being used as the bypass while the highway was closed.

brickies · Guru

News .com are saying the oldest person was 97 but they have been wrong before what ever terrible way to end such a long life

Happywanderer · The Master

So many news items are wrong brickies. I read one online last night that said it was at Chinchilla, then in the same report it was north of Childers.
Its actually between Childers and Howard.

rockylizard · Guru

pauline wrote:
how does anyone guard against things like heart attacks..............no matter what age you are

Gday...

Ya never know Pauline - Despite having passed numerous medical examinations and physicals during the year leading up to the race, including mandatory medical checks to renew his competition licence, and being declared fit to compete, in 1992, former Formula One world champion Denny Hulme, after complaining of blurred vision during the race, suffered a heart attack at the wheel of his BMW M3 whilst travelling along Conrod Straight. After veering into the wall on the left side of the track, he managed to bring the car to a relatively controlled stop on the opposite side of the course. When marshals reached the scene, Hulme was unconscious; he was pronounced dead at Bathurst Hospital after suffering a second heart attack.

He was only 56 years of age when he died.

Cheers - John

-- Edited by rockylizard on Monday 1st of October 2012 08:49:27 PM

milo · Guru

dont talk to me about oldies driving ,. please dont , Ive been thru alot about that as you all know.....
just dont get me started... lets just see what they really find out..

mr glassies · Guru

yea but milo we never hear what really happened . and like i sad above what about the poor trucky and i bet he gets the blame for a wile we always do but the truth never seams to come out . or there will be something else to blame.

dibs

Happywanderer · The Master

Just watched the latest news. The truckie is not being blamed on this one Graeme.
From what they are saying either something went wrong with the Prado or the health of the driver. It was seen to be swerving into the path of the truck. They have film footage from the trucks camera. So it should be worked out soon.
The 97 year old was the mother of one male and one female in the vehicle. The other two were the partners of the female and male.

milo · Guru

guess we'll never really know

Sheba · Guru

Happywanderer wrote:
The truckie is not being blamed on this one Graeme.

You beat me to it Marj.

Cheers,

Sheba.

Happywanderer · The Master

Yes we will milo, the police are analyzing the film from the trucks camera.
Also they may do an autopsy on the driver. He may have had a heart attack, it could take time but they usually come up with a reason in the end.

pauline · Guru

how does anyone guard against things like heart attacks..............no matter what age you are

jules47 · The Happy Helper

If your times up, not much you can do. I know this for a fact.

But reading the home page here, seems the driver may have had a "microsleep" - how sad!

Cruising Cruze · Guru

indeed so sad,
our tough are with the families