For more information or copies of AusRAP reports contact:

Australian Road Assessment Program (AusRAP) C/O Australian Automobile Association (AAA) 103 Northbourne Avenue, Canberra ACT 2601

Email [email protected] Web www.ausrap.org or www.aaa.asn.au Phone +61 2 6247 7311

Alternatively, contact the Automobile Club in your state or territory. Material in this publication may be reproduced or quoted provided AAA is acknowledged. © Australian Road Assessment Program (AusRAP) 2011 How Safe Are Our Roads? Rating Australia’s National Network for Risk Benchmarking the performance of Australia’s roads in the Decade of Action

2 011 An average of four people are killed on Road crashes cost our community $74 million Australia’s roads each day every day

Engineering measures to improve safety don’t Everyday drivers making everyday mistakes have to be high cost ones and best of all - they should not die or be seriously injured as a last decades consequence of an unsafe road

A road system where we have five star drivers AusRAP aspires to help Australia become a in five star cars on five star roads should nation free of high risk roads. involve no deaths

The roads assessed in this report represent just Over 20,000 kms of Australia’s highways have three per cent of Australia’s road length, but been rated for risk recorded over 15 per cent of all fatalities

26 per cent of the roads assessed have shown Just nine per cent of roads assessed qualify as little or no improvement and are persistently a most improved road high risk Contents

Why Road Safety is Important...... 2 Queensland...... 20 About AusRAP...... 3 South Australia...... 24 Simple Measures Save Lives...... 4 Western Australia...... 28 Rating Australia’s Network for Risk...... 5 Tasmania...... 32 How Safe are our Roads? Results...... 7 Northern Territory...... 36 Tracking the Safety Performance of Australian Capital Territory...... 40 Australia...... 10 Appendix – Complete Results...... 42 New South Wales...... 12 Victoria...... 16

Exclusion of Liability The material in this report is not intended to be relied upon as advice, and in particular the Authors and Publishers accept no responsibility for loss or injury suffered by any person as a consequence, direct or indirect, of anything contained in this report. 2 Why Road Safety is Important

Many road crashes involve sudden loss, untold suffering Making this happen requires the commitment of politicians, and financial hardship, and they change the lives of based on support from the public, funding from treasury, people forever. Safe personal travel should be a key road authority action, and the design and construction skills of road engineers. feature of modern society but unless road tragedy personally touches us or our loved ones, we sometimes The Australian Road Assessment Program (AusRAP) is don’t reflect on how big a problem it is. here to help all of these stakeholders, and aspires to help Australia become a nation free of high risk roads. Across Australia around 1,400 people are killed each year and more than 32,500 are hospitalised. This averages four deaths and nearly 90 serious injuries on Australian roads and costs our community $74 million each and every day.

Most crashes occur when ordinary people make everyday human mistakes. It has been estimated that around 1 in 500 driving decisions can be wrong, involving a mistake, an error of judgement, a missed signal or the like. Sober, drug-free, responsible drivers obeying the speed limit and wearing seatbelts frequently die on our roads. Safe roads minimise the chances of these crashes happening, and if they do occur, they minimise the severity of the crash. Engineering measures to improve safety don’t have to be high cost and best of all, they last decades!

We need to create a genuinely safe road system, in which improving the safety of drivers, vehicles and roads is of mutual importance. A road system where we have five star drivers, in five star cars on five star roads should involve no deaths.

It is estimated that of all road fatalities which can be avoided through improved safety, half of these would be achieved through road upgrades including investment in new road construction and expenditure on safety- related works. Australia’s National Road Safety Strategy 2011-2020 recognises the critical need to improve road infrastructure, particularly those road features which are designed to reduce run-off-road, intersection and head- on crashes. How Safe Are Our Roads? Rating Australia’s National Network for Risk – 2011 3 About AusRAP

AusRAP is a program run by the Australian Automobile features prevent crashes from occurring and reduce the Association and State and Territory motoring clubs, severity of those crashes which do occur. Each road is dedicated to saving lives through advocating for safer then assigned a Star Rating, which tells us how safe the road itself is. For more information on Star Ratings visit road infrastructure. www.ausrap.org AusRAP’s objectives are to: • reduce deaths and injuries on Australia’s roads by AusRAP – systematically assessing risk and identifying safety contributing to the shortcomings that can be addressed with practical road-improvement measures; and Decade of Action • put risk assessment at the heart of strategic decisions The Global Plan for the Decade on road improvements, crash protection and standards of Action for Road Safety 2011- of road management. 2020 encourages all countries to set a target of ‘Eliminating High AusRAP works in partnership with government and non- Risk Roads by 2020’. AusRAP aspires to help Australia government organisations to: become a nation free of high risk roads. • inspect national and state highways and develop Star This vision will be achieved through working with Ratings and Safer Roads Investment Plans; governments and government agencies, motoring Club • track road safety performance through risk maps so Members and the wider community, peak national and that funding agencies can assess the benefits of their state road user groups and the research community to investments; and highlight road safety infrastructure issues and potential • explain the benefits of safer road infrastructure to the solutions. community by describing why some roads are safer than others. AusRAP will extend road assessments and monitor the implementation of road improvements across Australia’s AusRAP uses two complementary methods—or protocols— National Highway Network (about 22,000kms) and many for assessing the safety of roads: Star Ratings and Risk State and Territory highways during the Decade of Action Mapping. for Road Safety.

Risk Mapping is a measure of the real-life performance of AusRAP’s membership and close ties to iRAP, the a road network because it is based on crashes which have International Road Assessment Program, opens the actually occurred. These crashes are a result of factors door to a world of best practice and innovative safety related to driver behaviour, the vehicle and the safety of improvements internationally. AusRAP is a valued the road infrastructure (see page 5 for more detail). member of the iRAP Board and the Global Technical Comparing two risk maps over time is known as Committee. As a founding iRAP program, AusRAP is a Performance Tracking, which is the focus of this report. leader in the iRAP Asia Pacific Region and through our relationship with iRAP and FIA, we will continue to assist Star Ratings measure the inherent safety of a road’s emerging RAP programs in our region. infrastructure – that is, the degree to which built in safety 4 Simple Measures Save Lives

The safety of road infrastructure depends on many through the use of medians and safety barriers, rather factors including the width of the road, whether there than relying on a splash of white paint. are curves and crests, line marking, the presence and The safety features of a road are not always obvious to type of any intersections, roadside hazards, overtaking motorists but they do make a huge difference as explained provision and whether head-on collisions are avoided below.

Undivided roads with only one lane in each direction make it riskier to overtake. Freeways with wide medians and safety barriers can safely handle much higher traffic volumes with virtually no chance of a head-on crash.

Roadside killers such as trees, poles and steep embankments can turn what would be a minor crash into a severe one. If these hazards can’t be removed, installing safety barriers can dramatically lower the risk.

If a driver moves out of their lane, sealing shoulders offers extra space to recover. Unsealed or narrow shoulders are unforgiving of simple mistakes, and can lead to loss of control, running off the road, or head-on into traffic.

Roads with lots of intersections are less safe because of an increased risk of crashes with side-road traffic. Low risk intersections have separate turning lanes and are clearly visible day and night. The best intersections have freeway- style on and off ramps.

Line marking and signs provide guidance to drivers about the road direction and assists the driver to make appropriate decisions. How Safe Are Our Roads? Rating Australia’s National Network for Risk – 2011 5 Rating Australia’s Network for Risk

In total, we have analysed more than 20,000 km of highways which represents three per cent of the total road network in Australia. These carry over 15 per cent of the nation’s road traffic and experienced 1,170 road crash deaths, or 15 per cent of all road deaths in Australia during the period 2005-2009.

This AusRAP analysis focuses on casualty crashes that occurred between 2005 and 2009 on rural sections of the National Land Transport Network and significant connecting roads. These are generally defined as being those with a speed limit of 90km/h or more, though some lower speed limit sections are included where they form an integral part of an otherwise higher speed route.

The results of this report are presented in six parts:

• performance tracking • national risk maps • summary of results • State and Territory risk maps • best and worst links • complete results

Performance tracking Performance Tracking uses the data compiled for each risk map to assess how the risk on the network, as a whole, and on individual road sections, had changed over time. It is a way of measuring success and the effectiveness of investment in safer roads. This report looks at how risk on the Australian Network has changed from 2000-2004 to 2005-2009, as well as identifying the ‘most improved’ and ‘persistently higher risk’ roads. 6

To achieve a ‘most improved’ rating a road link for this a fatality between States and Territories (that is, death study requires two criteria to be met. These are as follows: occurs within 30 days of the crash), jurisdictions report the severity of non-fatal crashes differently. In addition, 1. There must be a significant reduction in casualty the way a person’s injury is actually categorised at the crashes from the first period (2000 – 2004) to the crash scene can vary. second period (2005 – 2009), at the 98 per cent level. This is effectively an indicator for performance of the To address this definitional problem, the risk maps collective risk. presented in this report measure ‘casualty crashes’. A 2. The risk rating for individual risk should show a casualty crash is defined here as any road crash in which reduction in the rating and must be no higher than a at least one person is killed or injured and this includes medium score for the latest period. serious injuries which typically represent one third of casualty crashes. To be identified as having a ‘persistently higher risk’, a road link must satisfy the following two criteria: Summary results 1. There is no significant reduction in casualty crashes This report presents national and State and Territory from the first period (2000 – 2004) to the second period maps. For each State and Territory, the length of road (2005 – 2009) at the 98 per cent level. analysed, numbers of casualty crashes and number of 2. The calculated risk score for individual risk in both deaths that occurred on each highway during 2005-2009 analysis periods is in the Medium-High or High risk are also provided in a table. rating range. The summary results also provide a brief overview of some National risk maps of the major highway upgrades that have been completed AusRAP uses two types of colour coded risk maps to recently, or are planned by State/Territory and Federal illustrate relative levels of risk throughout road networks: Governments. The focus is on projects that are likely to improve the safety of the national network. • Collective risk maps show the density, or total number, of casualty crashes over a given length of road. Best and worst links Collective risk is calculated by dividing the number of The collective and individual risk measures are particularly casualty crashes per annum by the length of highway. useful when used together to tell a ‘combined story’. Roads • Individual risk maps show the casualty crash rates that score poorly on both measures—having relatively per vehicle kilometre travelled – and so effectively high collective and individual risk—might be considered represent the risk faced by an individual driver. as candidates for investment, and as roads where drivers Individual risk is calculated by dividing the frequency of should exercise extra care. crashes per annum by the distance travelled on each The ‘best’ links are those that are in the low or low- section of highway per annum. medium band for both collective and individual risk. The The colours and thresholds used in the maps to denote ‘worst’ links are those that are in the high or medium-high relative levels of risk are shown below in Table 1. band for both collective and individual risk. Previous risk mapping reports provide further details on Complete results the specific method used to produce the risk maps. These Complete, detailed results are provided at the end of this reports are available at www.ausrap.org. report in an Appendix. These results include information The crash and traffic volume data used in risk map reports on lengths of road, carriageway type, traffic volume, was obtained from the road authority in each State and casualty crashes, deaths and risk ratings for individual Territory. While there is consistency in the definition of sections of each highway.

Table 1: Colours and thresholds used in risk maps Collective risk (average annual casualty Individual risk (average annual casualty Risk rating crashes per km) crashes per 100M veh-km) Low < 0.03 < 6.85 Low-medium 0.03 – 0.10 6.85 – 9.56 Medium 0.10 – 0.17 9.56 – 12.34 Medium-high 0.17 – 0.29 12.34 – 16.44 High > 0.29 >16.44 How Safe Are Our Roads? Rating Australia’s National Network for Risk – 2011 7 How Safe Are Our Roads? Results

Tracking the Safety Performance 2000-2004 Australia’s Collective Risk Rating 2005-2009 50% of Australia’s Roads 46% 45% Since 2005, AAA and the State and Territory Motoring 39% 40% 2000-2004 Clubs have been mapping the rate of death and serious 35% Australia’s Collective Risk Rating 2005-2009 30% injury on Australia’s main highways. This year, for the 50% 26% 25% 46% 45% 21% first time, and to coincide with the start of the Decade 20% 39% 40% 14% % of network 15% of Action, we have tracked how these risk rates have 35% 11% 11% 11% 12% 10% 9% 30% 26% changed across Australia. For this report, crash and 5% 25% 0% 21% traffic data for the period 2000-2004 has been compared 20% LowLow-medium Medium Medium-high High14% % of network 15% to 2005-2009. 11% 11% 11% 12% 10% Risk Rating9% 5% Figure 1 shows the number change in collective risk Figure0% 1: Tracking the performance of Australia’s highways for collective between the two periods. It is pleasing to see that in risk (average annualLowL casualtyow-medium crashesMedium per km) Medium-high High Australia’s Individual Risk Rating 2000-2004 2005-2009 more of the network rated as low risk than Risk Rating 2005-2009 35% in 2000-2004. However, more of the network also rated 30% 30% 27% high risk in 2005-2009, which is a concern for Australian 2000-2004 25% Australia’s Individual Risk Rating 23% motorists. 23% 2005-2009 19% 20% 35%20% 17% 15% 30% 15% 30%15% Figure 2 shows the change in individual risk between 12% 27%

the two periods. The results show that less of the % of network 25%10% 23% 23% 20% 20%5% 19% network rated in the two highest risk categories in 17% 15% 15% 15%0% 2005-2009. The overall risk has dropped substantially 12% LowLow-medium Medium Medium-high High in the medium-high risk (down by 15 per cent) and high % of network 10% Risk Rating risk (down by six per cent) categories. 5%

0% LowLow-medium Medium Medium-high High Risk Rating

Figure 2: Tracking the performance of Australia’s highways for individual risk (average annual casualty crashes per 100 M veh-km) 8

‘Most Improved’ Sections of Highway ‘Most improved’ sections of highway are those where there has been a significant reduction in the number of fatal and serious crashes over time. Just nine per cent of the kilometres analysed this year qualified as an improved road. The top 15 ‘most improved’ sections of highway are shown in Table 2. On these highways alone, the number of casualty crashes dropped from 963 to 424 – a 56 per cent drop.

Table 2: ‘Most Improved’ Sections of Highway

Individual Individual Change Casualty Casualty in Rank State Highway Risk Risk From-to Type crashes crashes casualty Rating Rating crashes

2000-2004 2005-2009 Northern Timber Creek to WA 1 Victoria Highway Single 18 High 4 Low -77.8% Territory border 2 Victoria Princes Highway East Pakenham to Warragul [1] Dual 157 Medium 36 Low -77.1% Forth River Bridge to Medium- 3 Tasmania Bass Highway Single 33 9 Low -72.7% Knights Rd high Medium- 4 Victoria Calder Highway Sunraysia Hwy to Mildura Single 54 18 Low -66.7% high 5 Victoria Calder Highway Woodend to Pyrenees Hwy Dual 57 Medium 21 Low -63.2% Medium- 6 Victoria Calder Highway Wedderburn to Culgoa Single 23 9 Low -60.9% high 7 Queensland Flinders Hwy Richmond to Julia Creek Single 28 High 11 Medium -60.7% Northern Medium- =8 Barkly Highway Wunara to QLD border Single 25 High 10 -60.0% Territory high Northern Medium- Low- =8 Stuart Highway Pine Creek to Katherine Single 50 20 -60.0% Territory high medium Western Great Northern/Victoria NW Coastal T/Off to Medium- 9 Single 35 15 Low -57.1% Australia Highway Sandfire Roadhouse high 10 Victoria Princes Highway West Little River to Geelong Dual 61 Low 28 Low -54.1% Northern Medium- 11 Stuart Highway Katherine to Daly Waters Single 46 25 Medium -45.7% Territory high South 12 Dukes Highway Tailem Bend to Keith Single 95 Medium 54 Low -43.2% Australia New South Low- 13 Hume Highway Coolac to Tarcutta Mixed 96 55 Low -42.7% Wales medium New South Medium- Low- 14 Pacific Highway Nabiac to Taree Dual 87 50 -42.5% Wales high medium New South Low- 15 F6 Freeway Waterfall to Bulli Dual 98 59 Low -39.8% Wales medium

[1] This segment has been shortened from previous years to exclude the Pakenham Bypass which opened in December 2007, as this section is now considered more urban in nature. Ranked by percentage reduction in the number of casualty crashes between 2000-2004 and 2005-2009; significant reduction in the number of casualty crashes between data periods at the 98% confidence level; section lengths are greater than 7km; AusRAP Risk Rating based on the number of casualty crashes per 100 million vehicle km travelled: black (high risk), red (medium-high risk), orange (medium risk), yellow (low-medium risk), green (low risk). How Safe Are Our Roads? Rating Australia’s National Network for Risk – 2011 9

‘Persistently Higher Risk’ Sections of Highway ‘Persistently higher’ risk sections of highway are those rated high or medium-high risk in both data periods surveyed. They have shown little or no change over time. Twenty six per cent of the kilometres analysed this year qualified. Of the top 15 listed in Table 3, casualty crashes have risen by an average of forty per cent.

Table 3: ‘Persistently Higher Risk’ Sections of Highway

Individual Individual Casualty Casualty Change in Rank State Highway Risk Risk From-to Type crashes crashes casualty Rating Rating crashes 2000-2004 2005-2009

Northern Medium- 1 Stuart Highway Darwin to Pine Creek Single 140 262 High 87.1% Territory high Medium- 2 Queensland Bruce Highway Sarina to Mackay Single 54 108 High 100.0% high 3 Queensland Bruce Highway Childers to Miriam Vale Single 158 High 202 High 27.8%

Warrego/Landsborough/ 4 Queensland Mt Isa to NT border Single 30 High 43 High 43.3% Barkly Hwy

5 Queensland Bruce Highway Innisfail to Cairns Single 98 High 142 High 44.9%

Northern Medium- 6 Stuart Highway Alice Springs to SA border Single 41 50 High 22.0% Territory high

South Medium- 7 Dukes Highway Bordertown to VIC Border Single 12 13 High 8.3% Australia high

8 Queensland Bruce Highway Proserpine to Ayr Single 133 High 163 High 22.6%

Dalrymple Rd to Bell Bay Medium- 9 Tasmania East Tamar Highway Dual 17 32 High 88.2% Rd high

Warrego/Landsborough/ Medium- 10 Queensland Winton to Flinders Hwy Single 27 23 High -14.8% Barkly Hwy high

Alanvale Connector to Medium- 11 Tasmania East Tamar Highway Dual 18 35 High 94.4% Dalrymple Rd high

New South Great Western/Mitchell 12 Lapstone to Katoomba Mixed 405 High 397 High -2.0% Wales Highway

Western Great Northern/Victoria Halls Creek to NT Border Medium- 13 Single 36 57 High 58.3% Australia Highway [1] high

Miriam Vale to Medium- 14 Queensland Bruce Highway Single 164 206 High 25.6% Rockhampton high

South 15 Stuart Highway NT Border to Coober Pedy Single 41 High 45 High 9.8% Australia

[1] In this report, the section from Halls Creek to the Northern Territory border has been analysed as two sections (Halls Creek to Kununurra Turnoff and Kunnunarra Turnoff to Northern Territory border). In previous reports the section was defined as Halls Creek to Northern Territory border, and this has been used in the analysis to allow a comparison between the crashes in the two rating periods. Ranked by AusRAP Risk Rating 2005-2009; no significant reduction in the number of casualty crashes between data periods; section lengths are greater than 7km; AusRAP Risk Rating is in the medium-high (red) category or high risk (black) category in both data periods; AusRAP Risk Rating based on the number of fatal or serious crashes per 100 million vehicle km travelled: black (high risk), red (medium-high risk), orange (medium risk), yellow (low-medium risk), green (low risk); Some of the roads listed may have had measures implemented since 2009. 10 Australia

The map below presents the collective risk rating for the network assessed across Australia. The map on the following page presents the individual risk for the network assessed across Australia. Collective risk ratings, Australia, 2005-09

Figure 3: Average annual casualty crashes per km

Risk Rating Percentage of kms rated [1] Low w 46% Low-medium 21% Medium 9% Medium-high 11% High 14%

[1] Throughout this report, percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding How Safe Are Our Roads? Rating Australia’s National Network for Risk – 2011 11

Individual risk ratings, Australia, 2005-09

Figure 4: Average annual casualty crashes per 100m veh-km

Risk Rating Percentage of kms rated Low 23% Low-medium 19% Medium 27% Medium-high 15% High 17% 12 New South Wales

Ten highways were assessed in New South Wales, totalling 3,706km in length. The length of each highway and the number of casualty crashes and deaths that occurred during 2005-2009 are shown in Table 4.

Table 4: Highways Rated in New South Wales

Highway From - to Length Casualty crashes Deaths

km % 2005-2009 % 2005-2009 %

Barton Hwy Hume Highway to ACT border 38 1% 48 1% 6 2%

Hawkesbury River to New England F3 105 3% 563 10% 21 5% Highway

Waterfall to Wollongong (via Mt Ousley F6 39 1% 236 4% 5 1% Rd)

Federal Hwy Hume Highway to ACT border 66 2% 108 2% 6 2%

Great Western / Lapstone to Dubbo 305 8% 1,040 19% 39 10% Mitchell Hwy

Hume Hwy Narrellan Rd to Albury 485 13% 769 14% 56 14%

New England Hwy Branxton to QLD border 499 13% 535 10% 40 10%

Newell Hwy VIC border to QLD border 986 27% 456 8% 59 15%

Pacific Hwy Hexham to Chinderah 611 16% 1,596 29% 128 33%

Sturt Hwy Hume Highway to Mildura 572 15% 249 4% 30 8%

Total 3,706 100% 5,600 100% 390 100%

The 3,706km long network in New South Wales represents • The Sheahan Bridge has been duplicated over the 18 per cent of the total network assessed and the 390 Murrumbidgee River at Gundagai, immediately deaths that occurred on these sections of the New South upstream of the existing crossing Wales network during 2005-2009 account for 33 per cent • Construction of 12 kilometres of dual carriageway, of the national network total. including reconstruction of four kilometres of northbound carriageway between Muttama Creek and The collective risk map on the following page shows that the Dog on the Tuckerbox many of NSW’s highways are rated as medium-high or high risk, with only the Newell Highway and Sturt Highway • Duplication of 67 kilometres of Hume Highway from rating better than this for most of their length. the Sturt Highway to Table Top.

In terms of individual risk, NSW highways fare much better In addition the towns of Tarcutta, Holbrook and with the majority rating low or low-medium. Exceptions to Woomargama all have bypass construction underway; this include the Great Western / Mitchell Hwy and the Sturt upon completion this will see the Hume Highway Highway from the Hume Highway to Narrandera, although duplicated from Sydney to the Victorian border. some sections of the Hume Highway and Pacific Highway rated as medium-high or high risk. Significant upgrades continue across the NSW network with the Pacific Highway in particular slowly working NSW continues with major upgrade work across the toward a fully duplicated highway. The evidence is clear highway network, most prominent are the Hume and that where parts of the highway have been upgraded to Pacific Highways. dual carriage ways crashes have dramatically reduced along these routes. As at 30 of June 2011, 337 kilometres Since 2007 the following major upgrades have been were completed dual carriageway, 67 kilometres are under completed on the Hume Highway: construction, and about 128 kilometres are being prepared • The 17 kilometre Albury Wodonga Hume Freeway links for construction. About 51 percent of the highway length of the Hume Freeway in Wodonga with the Hume Highway 664 kilometres is now duplicated. at Ettamogah, north of Albury How Safe Are Our Roads? Rating Australia’s National Network for Risk – 2011 13

New South Wales collective risk ratings, 2005-09

Figure 5: Average annual casualty crashes per km

Risk Rating Percentage of kms rated Low 6% Low-medium 31% Medium 14% Medium-high 12% High 37%

14

New South Wales individual risk ratings, 2005-09

Figure 6: Average annual casualty crashes per 100m veh-km

Risk Rating Percentage of kms rated Low 38% Low-medium 34% Medium 14% Medium-high 8% High 7%

How Safe Are Our Roads? Rating Australia’s National Network for Risk – 2011 15

Best and worst links in New South Wales There are 13 links in New South Wales that can be classified in the best category, as shown in Table 5. Of these, the best is the Sturt Highway from Hay to Balranald to Euston.

Table 5: Best Links in New South Wales Highway From-to Collective Risk Rating Individual Risk Rating Newell Hwy VIC border to Jerilderie Low-medium Low-medium

Newell Hwy Narrandera to West Wyalong Low-medium Low-medium

Newell Hwy West Wyalong to Forbes Low-medium Low

Newell Hwy Forbes to Parkes Low-medium Low-medium

Newell Hwy Parkes to Dubbo Low-medium Low-medium

Newell Hwy Brocklehurst to Gilgandra Low-medium Low

Newell Hwy Gilgandra to Coonabarabran Low-medium Low-medium

Newell Hwy Coonabarabran to Narrabri Low-medium Low-medium

Newell Hwy Narrabri to Moree Low-medium Low

Newell Hwy Moree to QLD border Low-medium Low

Sturt Hwy Narrandera to Hay Low-medium Low

Sturt Hwy Hay to Balranald Low Low

Sturt Hwy Balranald to Euston Low Low

There are nine links in New South Wales which can be classified in the worst category, as shown in Table 6.

Whilst the two major highways experience significant funding for upgrading, other NSW roads are struggling under the strain of lack of major upgrade and maintenance. The NSW network is in urgent need of funding to maintain and improve safety, in an attempt to reduce risk for motorists.

Table 6: Worst Links in New South Wales Highway From-to Collective Risk Rating Individual Risk Rating Great Western / Mitchell Hwy Lapstone to Katoomba High High

Great Western / Mitchell Hwy Katoomba to Lithgow High High

Great Western / Mitchell Hwy Lithgow to Bathurst High Medium-high

Great Western / Mitchell Hwy Wellington to Dubbo High High

Hume Hwy Goulburn to Yass High Medium-high

Hume Hwy Holbrook to Albury High Medium-high

Pacific Hwy McLean to Ballina High Medium-high

Pacific Hwy Ballina to Byron Bay High Medium-high

Sturt Hwy Hume Highway to Wagga Wagga High High 16 Victoria

Eight highways were assessed in Victoria, totalling 1,724km in length. The length of each highway and the number of casualty crashes and deaths that occurred during 2005-2009 are shown in Table 7.

Table 7: Highways Rated in Victoria

Highway From - to Length Casualty crashes Deaths

km % 2005-09 % 2005-09 %

Calder Highway [1] Western Ring Road to Mildura 515 30% 340 13% 23 18%

Goulburn Valley Highway [2] Seymour to NSW border 141 8% 104 4% 19 15%

Hume Highway [3] Craigieburn to NSW border 293 17% 433 17% 26 20%

Princes Highway East [4] Pakenham to Sale 131 8% 276 11% 15 12%

Princes Highway West [5] Western Ring Road to Colac 114 7% 291 11% 15 12%

Sturt Highway Mildura to SA border 110 6% 20 1% 2 2%

Western Highway Western Ring Road to SA border 395 23% 592 23% 22 17%

Princes Highway West to Hume Western Ring Road 26 2% 476 19% 5 4% Highway

Total 1,725 100% 2,532 100% 127 100%

[1] The Ravenswood duplication (completed May 2005) and Harcourt duplication (completed April 2009) means that crash numbers are likely to reduce in future years. [2] The Arcadia duplication (opened in February 2008) is included, so crash numbers are likely to reduce in future years. [3] This includes the Craigieburn bypass (opened in December 2005), so results for this section are from 2006-2009 only. The analysis has been extended to include the Albury/Wodonga bypass (completed March 2007). While this is likely to slightly underestimate the total number of crashes, any underestimate is likely to be small as no crashes were recorded on the bypass from 2007-2009. [4] This segment has been shortened from previous years to exclude the Pakenham Bypass which opened in December 2007. [5] Geelong to Colac was added to the National Network in 2009, however five years of data has been used.

The 1,725km long network in Victoria represents eight per from the Western Ring Road to Melton, the Princes Hwy cent of the total network analysed throughout Australia East from Strzelecki Hwy to Traralgon and then Rosedale and the 127 deaths that occurred on these sections of the to Sale, all rated medium-high. No roads in Victoria rated Victorian network during 2005-2009 account for 11 per high for individual risk. cent of the national network total. Substantial upgrades to the network have been completed The Western Hwy experienced the highest level of road during the rating period including on the Calder Hwy which trauma on the Victorian network, accounting for 23 per is now dual carriageway from Melbourne to Bendigo. cent of the casualty crashes and 17 per cent of the deaths. Other significant upgrades undertaken include: Both the Calder Hwy and Hume Hwy experienced a similar number of deaths as the Western Hwy, but fewer casualty • Goulburn Valley Hwy Murchison section (opened crashes. This indicates that crashes are occurring more February 2003) and Arcadia section (opened February often on the Western Hwy, yet the severity outcome is 2008) similar to roads with a lower crash rate. • Hume Hwy Craigieburn bypass (opened December 2005) and Albury/Wodonga bypass (opened March The collective risk map on the following page shows that 2007) the majority of Victoria’s highways rated as medium-high • Princes Hwy East Pakenham bypass (opened December or high risk. Both the Princes Hwy East and the Western 2007) Ring Road are rated high risk for their entire lengths. For the Western Ring Road this can partly be attributed to its • Western Hwy Deer Park bypass (opened April 2009) urban nature, with high volumes and stop-start traffic Most of the above infrastructure upgrades have not been in resulting in a high number of rear-end crashes. place for the entire 2005-2009 rating period. It is expected that the benefits of these improvements will become more The individual risk map, which takes into account traffic apparent over time, as the investment in improving the volumes, shows that the majority of highways are rated safety of the road translates into fewer and less severe as a low or low-medium risk. However the Western Hwy crashes into the future. How Safe Are Our Roads? Rating Australia’s National Network for Risk – 2011 17

Attention is drawn to investment made subsequent to the • Princes Hwy West duplication Waurn Ponds (due for close of the current data period. Since 30 December 2009, completion in 2014) Federal and State Governments have funded the following • Western Hwy Ballarat to Stawell upgrade (being works to improve Victoria’s roads and these improvements carried out in stages. The first stage will be completed are not reflected in the data presented in this report: in 2012 with the final stage due for completion in 2016) and Anthony’s Cutting realignment (due for completion • Geelong Ring Road (completed June 2009) in early 2012) • Goulburn Valley Hwy Nagambie bypass (due for • Western Ring Road upgrade (due for completion early completion mid 2012) 2014). • Princes Hwy East duplication Traralgon to Sale (being carried out in stages. The first stage was completed in January 2011

Victoria collective risk ratings, 2005-09

Figure 7: Average annual casualty crashes per km

Risk Rating Percentage of kms rated Low 12% Low-medium 27% Medium 11% Medium-high 24% High 26% 18

Victoria individual risk ratings, 2005-09

Figure 8: Average annual casualty crashes per 100m veh-km

Risk Rating Percentage of kms rated Low 51% Low-medium 35% Medium 11% Medium-high 3% High 0% How Safe Are Our Roads? Rating Australia’s National Network for Risk – 2011 19

Best and worst links in Victoria

There are seven links in Victoria which can be classified in the best category as shown in Table 8. The best of these is the Calder Highway from Wedderburn to Culgoa to Sunraysia Highway.

Table 8: Best links in Victoria

Highway From-to Collective Risk Rating Individual Risk Rating

Calder Highway Bendigo to Wedderburn Low-medium Low-medium

Calder Highway Wedderburn to Culgoa Low Low

Calder Highway Culgoa to Sunraysia Hwy Low Low

Calder Highway Sunraysia Hwy to Mildura Low-medium Low

Sturt Highway Mildura to SA border Low-medium Low

Western Highway Horsham to Nhill Low-medium Low-medium

Western Highway Nhill to SA border Low-medium Low-medium

There are three links in Victoria which can be classified in risk on the Rosedale to Sale section in future years. The the worst category as shown in Table 9. The worst links analysis of the Western Highway does not include the Deer represent just over three per cent of the road network Park Bypass which opened in April 2009, and we expect assessed in Victoria but experienced nearly nine per cent the benefit of this improvement to be reflected into the of the state’s road deaths. future.

The Princes Highway East is being duplicated from Traralgon to Sale, so it is likely that this will reduce the

Table 9: Worst links in Victoria

Highway From-to Collective Risk Rating Individual Risk Rating

Princes Highway East Strzelecki Hwy to Traralgon High Medium-high

Princes Highway East Rosedale to Sale High Medium-high

Western Highway Western Ring Road to Melton High Medium-high 20 Queensland

Six highways on the rural network in Queensland were assessed, totalling 4,784km in length. The length of each highway and number of casualty crashes and deaths that occurred during 2005-09 are shown in Table 10.

Table 10: Highways rated in Queensland Highway From – to Length Casualty crashes Deaths km % 2005-09 % 2005-09 %

Bruce Hwy Brisbane to Cairns 1,553 32% 2,869 50% 204 61%

Flinders Hwy Townsville to Barkly Highway 756 16% 131 2% 13 4%

Gore/Leichhardt Hwy Toowoomba to NSW border 219 5% 110 2% 10 3%

New England/ Ipswich to NSW border 216 5% 291 5% 23 7% Cunningham Hwy

Pacific Motorway [1] Gateway Motorway to NSW border 78 2% 1,340 24% 25 8%

Warrego / Landsborough / Barkly Cunningham Highway to NT border 1,961 41% 943 17% 58 17% Hwy

Total 4,784 100% 5,684 100% 333 100%

[1] This link may include crashes on the Pacific Motorway section that was replaced by the Tugun Bypass, prior to the bypass opening in June 2008

The 4,784km long network in Queensland represents its length. This makes the Bruce Highway one of the more 23 per cent of the total network analysed throughout ‘risky’ roads identified in this report. Australia and the 333 deaths that occurred during 2005- 09 represents 28 per cent of the national network total. Significant investment is required for infrastructure improvements along the Bruce Highway to address safety The Bruce Highway experienced the highest level of road deficiencies and to cater for increasing traffic demand. trauma on the Queensland national network, accounting Recent Federal funding has been announced for 50 for 50 per cent of casualty crashes and 61 per cent of deaths overtaking lanes, fixing black spots and installing audible during 2005-09. In fact, the Bruce Highway accounted for line markings. However there is still a backlog of projects more than 17 per cent of deaths on the entire national required to achieve the desired road safety benefits. network.

It is not surprising then, that the collective risk map on the following page shows that the Bruce Highway is medium-high and high risk along much of its length. The individual risk map, which takes account of traffic volumes, demonstrates that the risk of being involved in a crash is also rated medium-high and high along much of How Safe Are Our Roads? Rating Australia’s National Network for Risk – 2011 21

Queensland collective risk ratings, 2005-09

Figure 9: Average annual casualty crashes per km

Risk Rating Percentage of kms rated Low 35% Low-medium 17% Medium 13% Medium-high 19% High 15% 22

Queensland individual risk ratings, 2005-09

Figure 10: Average annual casualty crashes per 100m veh-km

Risk Rating Percentage of kms rated Low 1% Low-medium 12% Medium 27% Medium-high 23% High 37% How Safe Are Our Roads? Rating Australia’s National Network for Risk – 2011 23

Best and worst links in Queensland There are three links that can be classified in the best category as shown in Table 11. The best of these are the Flinders Highway between Hughenden and Richmond and the Warrego/Landsbough/Barkly Highway between Morven and Barcaldine.

Table 11: Best Links in Queensland

Highway From - to Collective Risk Rating Individual Risk Rating

Flinders Hwy Hughenden to Richmond Low Low-medium

New England/Cunningham Hwy Warwick to Stanthorpe Low-medium Low-medium

Warrego / Landsborough / Barkly Hwy Morven to Barcaldine Low Low-medium

Fifteen links can be classified in the worst category as Gatton. The worst links represented less than one percent shown in Table 12. The worst of these are on the Bruce (0.7%) of Queensland’s total road network but experienced Highway, Sarina to Mackay and Innisfail to Cairns as well almost 12% (200) of the state’s road deaths. as the Warrego Higway from the Cunningham Highway to

Table 12: Worst Links in Queensland Highway From - to Collective risk rating Individual Risk Rating Bruce Highway Cooroy to Gympie High Medium-high

Bruce Highway Gympie to Childers High Medium-high

Bruce Highway Childers to Miriam Vale Medium-high High

Bruce Highway Miriam Vale to Rockhampton Medium-high High

Bruce Highway Sarina to Mackay High High

Bruce Highway Mackay to Proserpine Medium-high High

Bruce Highway Proserpine to Ayr Medium-high High

Bruce Highway Townsville to Ingham High Medium-high

Bruce Highway Ingham to Innisfail Medium-high Medium-high

Bruce Highway Innisfail to Cairns High High

New England/Cunningham Ipswich to Willowbank High Medium-high Hwy

New England/Cunningham Kalbar to Warwick High Medium-high Hwy

Gateway Motorway to Logan Pacific Motorway High Medium-high Motorway

Smith Street Fwy to NSW Pacific Motorway High Medium-high border

Warrego / Landsborough / Cunningham Hwy to Gatton High High Barkly Hwy 24 South Australia

Six highways on the rural network in South Australia were assessed, totalling 2,641km in length. The length of each highway and number of casualty crashes and deaths that occurred during 2005-2009 are shown in Table 13.

Table 13: Highways Rated in South Australia Highway From – to Length Casualty crashes Deaths

km % 2005-09 % 2005-09 %

Dukes Highway Tailem Bend to VIC border 191 7% 82 11% 23 27%

Eyre Highway WA border to Port Augusta 941 36% 93 12% 12 14%

Pt Augusta / Pt Port Augusta to Old Port Wakefield Rd 272 10% 218 29% 16 19% Wakefield Road

South East Freeway Crafers Interchange to Tailem Bend 85 3% 115 15% 4 5%

Stuart Highway NT border to Port Augusta 926 35% 112 15% 15 18%

Sturt Highway Gawler Bypass to VIC border 226 9% 144 19% 15 18%

Total 2,641 100% 764 100% 85 100%

The 2,641km long network in South Australia represents Overall, South Australia accounts for a relatively small 13 per cent of the network analysed throughout Australia percentage of the crashes on the entire national network, and the 85 deaths that occurred during 2005-09 represents and this is reflected in the collective risk map on the seven per cent of the national network total. following page with the majority of the network being rated as low-medium or low risk. The Dukes Highway accounted for 23 deaths, or 27 per cent of all deaths on the National Highway Network in Conversely, the individual risk map shows a reasonably South Australia. This figure is relatively high, considering large percentage of the highways in South Australia are the highway length is just seven per cent of the National rated as having medium to high risk. Three sections of Highway Network in the state. highway were rated as high individual risk, namely the Eyre Highway between Yalata and Fowlers Bay, the Stuart The proportion of deaths on the Dukes Highway is Highway between the Northern Territory border and noticeably higher than the proportion of casualty crashes Coober Pedy and the Dukes Highway between Bordertown (11 per cent), suggesting that crash outcomes on this and the Victorian border. highway are often more severe than on other highways. A similar case exists for the Stuart Highway, which Since the release of the last AusRAP report, the experienced 18 per cent of the deaths on the network Commonwealth and South Australian Governments assessed in South Australia but only 15 per cent of the have completed upgrades on the Sturt Highway, and casualty crashes and the Eyre Highway which experienced works are in place for the safety upgrades along Dukes 14 per cent of deaths in South Australia, but only 12 per Highway. The Sturt Highway upgrades include duplicating cent of the casualty crashes. a section near Gawler, realignment of bends, protection or removal of roadside hazards, intersection upgrades By comparison, the proportion of deaths on Port Augusta and shoulder sealing. As the Sturt Highway project was / Port Wakefield Road (19 per cent) is perceptibly smaller only completed in 2010, and the Dukes Highway upgrade than the percentage for casualty crashes (29 per cent). is currently underway, we expect that future risk maps will This is evidence that crashes on the Port Augusta / Port progressively illustrate the road safety benefits of investing Wakefield Road tend to be less severe than crashes on in safer road infrastructure. other highways. How Safe Are Our Roads? Rating Australia’s National Network for Risk – 2011 25

South Australia collective risk ratings, 2005-09

Figure 11: Average annual casualty crashes per km

Risk Rating Percentage of kms rated Low 63% Low-medium 18% Medium 15% Medium-high 1% High 3% 26

South Australia individual risk ratings, 2005-09

Figure 12: Average annual casualty crashes per 100m veh-km

Risk Rating Percentage of kms rated Low 24% Low-medium 19% Medium 31% Medium-high 7% High 19% How Safe Are Our Roads? Rating Australia’s National Network for Risk – 2011 27

Best and worst links in South Australia There are eight links in South Australia that can be classified in the best category, as shown in Table 14. The best of these is the Eyre Highway from the WA border to Yalata. This link is 279km long, carried an average of around 380 vehicles per day and experienced 10 casualty crashes and one death between 2005 and 2009.

Table 14: Best Links in South Australia

Highway From - to Collective Risk Rating Individual Risk Rating

Eyre Highway WA Border to Yalata Low Low

Eyre Highway Ceduna to Kyancutta Low Low-medium

Eyre Highway Kyancutta to Lincoln Hwy Low Low-medium

Eyre Highway Lincoln Hwy to Port Augusta Low-medium Low-medium

Pt Augusta / Pt Wakefield Road Port Augusta to Port Pirie Low-medium Low

Sturt Highway Paringa to VIC Border Low-medium Low

Dukes Highway Tailem Bend to Keith Low-medium Low

Dukes Highway Keith to Bordertown Low-medium Low

There are no links in South Australia that can be categorised in the worst category. 28 Western Australia

Six highways on the rural network in Western Australia were assessed, totalling 4,682km in length. The length of each highway and number of casualty crashes and deaths that occurred during 2005-2009 are listed below.

Table 15: Highways Assessed in Western Australia Highway From - to Length Casualty crashes Deaths km % 2005-09 % 2005-09 %

Great Eastern Highway [1] Mundaring to Coolgardie 522 11% 213 28% 10 11%

Coolgardie - Esperance Highway Coolgardie to Norseman 164 4% 25 3% 1 1%

Eyre Highway Norseman to SA Border 721 15% 41 5% 6 7%

Muchea to Kununurra T/ Great Northern Highway 3,100 66% 282 36% 42 48% off

Wyndham T/off to NT Victoria Highway 88 2% 23 3% 3 4% border

Perth – Bunbury Highway Dawesville to Bunbury 87 2% 192 25% 25 29%

Total 4,682 100% 776 100% 87 100%

[1] The section from Mundaring to The Lakes uses data for a three-year period only (2007-2009) due to a road realignment carried out in September 2006.

The 4,682km long network in Western Australia represents Upgrades to the network which have been completed 23 per cent of the total network analysed throughout during the rating period include: Australia and the 87 deaths that occurred during 2005-09 represents seven per cent of the national network total. • Great Eastern Highway which was duplicated between Sawyers Valley and The Lakes and completed in Whilst the Great Northern Highway represents 66 per cent September 2006 by Main Roads Western Australia. of the National Highway Network in Western Australia by • Eyre Highway upgrades which opened in December length, it experienced only 36% of the casualty crashes 2006 between Caiguna East and Balladonia West and in (282) and 48% of the recorded fatalities (42). Conversely, January 2008 between Heartbreak Ridge & Balladonia the 87 km of Perth – Bunbury Highway, whilst making up West only two per cent in terms of length, recorded a quarter of • Great Northern Highway upgrade which opened the casualty crashes and 29% of the fatalities. between Walebing and Bindi Bindi in March 2009

Due to the remote nature of much of the National Highway • Perth-Bunbury Highway infrastructure upgrades on Network in WA, both traffic volumes and crashes are the Preston Beach to Bunbury section as part of a generally low. As a consequence of this, the AusRAP larger project to build a new section of highway from methodology results in many of the links being several Pinjarra Road to Old Coast Road which opened in hundred kilometres in length. This methodology is September 2009. based on a minimum number of casualty crashes (i.e. None of the above infrastructure upgrades have been in a desireable 20 crashes per link), but when this results place for the entire 2005-2009 rating period. It is expected in such long links, it is unlikely that the crashes will be that the benefits of improvements, particularly those evenly distributed. Consequently, the risk rating will show implemented in the later part of the assessment period, an average value along the link, whereas in reality, some will become more apparent over time, as the investment portions of the link may be significantly better or worse in improving the safety of the road translates into fewer than this value. and less severe crashes into the future. How Safe Are Our Roads? Rating Australia’s National Network for Risk – 2011 29

Western Australia collective risk ratings, 2005-09

Figure 13: Average annual casualty crashes per km

Risk Rating Percentage of kms rated Low 82% Low-medium 15% Medium 0% Medium-high 1% High 2% 30

Western Australia individual risk ratings, 2005-09

Figure 14: Average annual casualty crashes per 100m veh-km

Risk Rating Percentage of kms rated Low 33% Low-medium 10% Medium 34% Medium-high 15% High 9% How Safe Are Our Roads? Rating Australia’s National Network for Risk – 2011 31

Best and worst links in Western Australia Of the 18 links assessed, there are five links as shown in Table 16 that can be classified in the ‘best links’ category. Four of these are part of the Great Northern Highway. These links are all between 280 and 500km long, carried an average of less than 800 vehicles per day and experienced between 15 and 52 casualty crashes over the 2005-09 period. However, of the casualty crashes recorded on the Meekatharra – Newman and Newman to NW Coastal t/off links, there were a higher number of fatalities (six on each).

As noted above, the averaging effect of assessing these long links may mask certain sections within these links that do not perform as well.

Table 16: BEST Links in Western Australia

Collective Risk Individual Risk Highway From-to Rating Rating

Eyre Hwy Caiguna to SA border Low Low

Great Northern Hwy Wubin to Meekathara Low Low

Great Northern Hwy Meekathara to Newman Low Low

Great Northern Hwy Newman to NW Coastal Hwy turn off Low Low-medium

Great Northern Hwy NW Coastal Hwy t/off to Sandfire Roadhouse Low Low

It should be noted that Individual Risk is a measure of link from The Lakes to Northam. These links are 14km the risk for individual drivers (per 100 million vehicle and 42km long respectively. Due to a road realignment kilometres travelled), and as such, traffic volume is a key completed in September 2006, the data for Mundaring to variable in the calculation of this rating. As shown on page The Lakes covers a three-year period only (2007-09). The 50, traffic flows on many of the National Network links in Mundaring to The Lakes link carried approximately 9,400 Western Australia are only a few hundred vehicles per day. vehicles per day and experienced 21 casualty crashes and With traffic data only being collected in certain locations, no deaths from 2007 to 2009. The Lakes to Northam link and then on an irregular basis, it can be seen that small carried 4,688 vehicles per day and experienced 47 casualty changes in traffic flow data can have a large effect on the crashes and five deaths from 2005 to 2009. These two subsequent ratings. ‘worst links’ represented six per cent of the total number of deaths on the surveyed links and 0.5 per cent of the 634 Two links can be classified, in the ‘worst links’ category as road deaths in the State of WA from 2007 to 2009. show in Table 17. These are on the Great Eastern Highway between Mundaring and The Lakes and then the adjacent

Table 17: Worst Links in Western Australia Collective Risk Individual Risk Highway From - to Rating Rating Great Eastern Highway Mundaring to The Lakes High Medium-high

Great Eastern Highway The Lakes to Northam Medium-high Medium-high

Although not rating in the ‘worst links’ category due to high traffic volumes reducing the Individual Risk results, the two links on Perth – Bunbury Highway both rated High on Collective Risk, and exhibited crash and fatality figures far in excess of their length, pro rata. 32 Tasmania

Five highways were assessed in Tasmania, totalling 371km in length. The length assessed of each highway and number of casualty crashes and deaths that occurred during 2005-2009 are shown in Table 17.

Table 17: Roads assessed in Tasmania Highway From - to Length Casualty crashes Deaths km % 2005-09 % 2005-09 %

Midland Highway Rifle Range Rd to Howick Street 158 43% 184 24% 36 49%

Bass Highway Midland Highway to Stowport Road 139 37% 253 33% 32 43%

East Tamar Highway Alanvale Connector to Bell Bay Rd 41 11% 67 9% 2 3%

Tasman Highway [1] Macquarie St to Holyman Ave 16 4% 70 9% 1 1%

Brooker Highway [1] Burnett St to Granton 17 5% 187 25% 3 4%

Total 371 100% 761 100% 74 100%

[1] These links were added to the National Highway Network in 2009, however five years of data has been used.

sections of the Bass Highway between Launceston and The 371km network in Tasmania represented two per cent Devonport, which will help mitigate the high incidence of of the network analysed throughout Australia and the 74 single vehicle run-off-road type crashes prevalent on the deaths that occurred during 2005-2009 represents six per Tasmanian network. cent of the total national network assessed. The Midland Highway is Tasmania’s major north-south The 36 deaths that occurred on the Midland Highway freight and transport corridor. However, the southern represents almost half (49 per cent) of the total number section of the highway passes through a number of towns, of deaths on the Tasmanian network. The Bass Highway including Brighton (a regional service centre), Pontville accounted for 43 per cent of the deaths on the Tasmanian and Bagdad with significant conflict between intrastate network with the other highways accounting for less than and local traffic. The $176 million Brighton Bypass, ten per cent combined. scheduled for completion in June 2012, will provide a new dual carriageway highway, grade-separated interchanges The collective risk map on the following page shows that and local service roads on the highest-volume section the entire network analysed is rated medium risk or between the East Derwent Highway at Bridgewater and the worse, although much of the network performed better existing Midland Highway north of Pontville, substantially under the individual risk analysis, which takes specific improving the current high-risk traffic conditions through account of traffic volumes. Brighton and Pontville.

Only a comparatively small part of the overall network In addition, the Tasmanian Government has signed a the East Tamar Highway has a high risk rating so recent partnership agreement with local government to develop upgrades are welcome. In particular, the completion of a plan to guide the implementation of safety upgrades to the $60 million Dilston Bypass project in June 2011 will the Midland Highway over two-, five- and ten-year-plus significantly reduce risk on this poorly-performing link. timeframes to upgrade it to a pre-determined minimum The Bass Highway has undergone substantial upgrades in standard identified by the common vision. recent years including duplication of some high-volume We would expect that as these major projects are sections. In addition, the Tasmanian Government has completed on the Tasmanian network, the risk maps will committed to rolling out audible-tactile profiled edge and progressively illustrate the road safety benefits of investing centre markings where required on single carriageway in safer road infrastructure. How Safe Are Our Roads? Rating Australia’s National Network for Risk – 2011 33

Tasmania collective risk ratings, 2005-09

Figure 15: Average annual casualty crashes per km

Risk Rating Percentage of kms rated Low 0% Low-medium 0% Medium 19% Medium-high 43% High 39% 34

Tasmania individual risk ratings, 2005-09

Figure 16: Average annual casualty crashes per 100m veh-km

Risk Rating Percentage of kms rated Low 15% Low-medium 26% Medium 25% Medium-high 20% High 13% How Safe Are Our Roads? Rating Australia’s National Network for Risk – 2011 35

Best and worst links in Tasmania There are no links in Tasmania that can be classified in the best category.

There are eight links that can be classified in the worst category, as shown in Table 18. The worst of these are the East Tamar Highway between the Alanvale Connector and Bell Bay Rd and the Brooker Highway from Burnett St to Berriedale Rd.

Table 18: Worst Links

Highway From - to Collective Risk Rating Individual Risk Rating

Lower Marshes Rd to Sorell Springs Midland Highway Medium-high Medium-high Rd

Midland Highway Evandale Main Rd to Howick Street High Medium-high

Bass Highway Parramatta Creek to Victoria Bridge High Medium-high

Bass Highway Victoria Bridge to Forth River Bridge High Medium-high

Bass Highway Nine Mile Rd to Stowport Rd High Medium-high

East Tamar Highway Alanvale Connector to Dalrymple Rd High High

East Tamar Highway Dalrymple Rd to Bell Bay Rd High High

Brooker Highway Burnett St to Berriedale Rd High High

The Bass Highway is undergoing substantial upgrades to and wider sealed shoulders will achieve risk reduction. sections at Round Hill and other locations east of Burnie. This should reduce risk in the Nine Mile Road to Stowport On the Brooker Highway, the installation of new centre Road link. Works include installation of flexible barrier, barrier and some edge flexible barrier and upgraded upgraded junctions and road realignment, and some delineation on the link between Elwick Rd and Berriedale Rd permanent speed limit reductions. since the last report will have reduced risk, and we expect this to become more apparent in the results of future risk The construction of the $60 million Dilston Bypass at Dilston mapping. The Tasmanian Government is focusing on the on the East Tamar Highway during the period is expected to Howard Road Roundabout and the Elwick Road junction improve the safety of this poorly-performing link between as their two key priority projects to improve efficiency and Alanvale Connector and Bell Bay Road. Separation using safety in this Brooker Highway link. flexible barrier over nine kilometres as well as upgraded junctions, weather stations to inform variable speed limits, 36 Northern Territory

Three highways were assessed in Northern Territory, totalling 2,652km in length. The length assessed of each highway and number of casualty crashes and deaths that occurred during 2005-2009 are shown in Table 19.

Table 19: Roads assessed in Northern Territory

Highway From - to Length Casualty crashes Deaths

km % 2005-09 % 2005-09 %

Barkly Highway Stuart Hwy to QLD border 434 16% 23 4% 1 1%

Stuart Highway Darwin to SA border 1,749 66% 468 91% 65 90%

Victoria Highway Katherine to WA border 469 18% 23 4% 6 8%

Total 2,652 100% 514 100% 72 100%

The 2,562km network in Northern Territory represented 13 A number of works have been carried out to improve per cent of the network analysed throughout Australia and Northern Territory roads since 2005. Significant works the 72 deaths that occurred during 2005-2009 represents include: six per cent of the total national network assessed. • Stuart Highway overtaking opportunities Darwin to The Stuart Hwy experienced the highest level of road Katherine trauma on the Northern Territory network, accounting for • Work to widen the road pavement on various sections 91 per cent of the casualty crashes and 90 per cent of the of the Stuart, Victoria and Barkly Highways deaths, but just 66 per cent of the network assessed in the • Various intersection improvements on these three Northern Territory. highways The collective risk map on the following page shows that • Infrastructure Road Safety initiatives including fatigue the majority of Northern Territory’s highways rated as low management on Stuart, Victoria and Barkly Highways or low-medium risk. However the Stuart Hwy from Darwin (truck parking bays/rest areas) to Pine Creek rated medium-high. • Easing access to Darwin with Tiger Brennan Drive off Stuart Highway. The individual risk map shows that the majority of Northern Territory’s network rated as medium risk. It is The speed limit on these highways was reduced to however a concern that 43 per cent of the network in the 130km/h from 1 January 2007. Northern Territory rated as medium-high or high. How Safe Are Our Roads? Rating Australia’s National Network for Risk – 2011 37

Northern Territory collective risk ratings, 2005-09

Figure 17: Average annual casualty crashes per km

Risk Rating Percentage of kms rated Low 69% Low-medium 24% Medium 0% Medium-high 7% High 0% 38

Northern Territory individual risk ratings, 2005-09

Figure 18: Average annual casualty crashes per 100m veh-km

Risk Rating Percentage of kms rated Low 7% Low-medium 14% Medium 40% Medium-high 21% High 18% How Safe Are Our Roads? Rating Australia’s National Network for Risk – 2011 39

Best and worst links in the Northern Territory There are three links in the Northern Territory which can be classified as the best links as show in Table 20. Of these the best is the Victoria Highway from Timber Creek to the WA border. This link recorded four casualty crashes resulting in two fatalities over the 184 km length.

Table 20: Best Links in Northern Territory

Highway From-to Collective Risk Rating Individual Risk Rating

Stuart Hwy Pine Creek to Katherine Low-medium Low-medium

Victoria Hwy Katherine to Timber Creek Low Low-medium

Victoria Hwy Timber Creek to WA border Low Low

Only one link in Northern Territory meets the criteria for a worst link as shown in Table 21. This is the Stuart Highway from Darwin to Pine Creek which recorded 262 casualty crashes, along the 192 kilometre length. This link is only seven per cent of the network rated in the Northern Territory, but recorded over 50 per cent of the total crashes on the network.

Table 21: Worst Links in Northern Territory

Highway From-to Collective Risk Rating Individual Risk Rating

Stuart Hwy Darwin to Pine Creek Medium-high High 40 Australian Capital Territory

Two highways were assessed in the Australian Capital Territory, totalling 20km in length. The length assessed of each highway and number of casualty crashes and deaths that occurred during 2005-2009 are shown in Table 22.

Table 22: Roads assessed in Australian Capital Territory Highway From - to Length Casualty crashes Deaths km % 2005-09 % 2005-09 %

Barton Highway ACT border to Federal Highway 12 60% 37 74% 1 50%

Federal Highway ACT border to Antill Street 8 40% 13 26% 1 50%

Total 20 100% 50 100% 2 100%

The 20km network in Australian Capital Territory The collective risk map on the following page shows that represented less than one per cent of the network analysed the network in the ACT rated high risk. For individual risk, throughout Australia and the two deaths that occurred the network rated low or medium. during 2005-2009 represents less than one per cent of the total national network assessed. In the past five years there has been no significant change to the national road network in the ACT.

Australian Capital Territory collective risk ratings, 2005-09

Figure 19: Average annual casualty crashes per km

Risk Rating Percentage of kms rated Low 0% Low-medium 0% Medium 0% Medium-high 0% High 100% How Safe Are Our Roads? Rating Australia’s National Network for Risk – 2011 41

Australian Capital Territory individual risk ratings, 2005-09

Figure 20: Average annual casualty crashes per 100m veh-km

Risk Rating Percentage of kms rated Low 40% Low-medium 0% Medium 60% Medium-high 0% High 0%

Best and worst links in the Australian Capital Territory There are two links in the Australian Capital Territory, neither of which can be classified as best or worst. 42 Appendix Complete Results

Collective Risk Rating Individual Risk Rating Traffic Casualty Length Deaths Annual average Annual average From-to Type Vehicles crashes km 2005-09 casualty crashes per casualty crashes per per day 2005-09 km 100 M veh-km

New South Wales

Barton Hwy Hume Highway to Mixed 17 7750 19 5 0.21938 Medium-high 7.76 Low-medium Murrumbateman Murrumbateman to ACT border Single 21 8500 29 1 0.28152 Medium-high 9.07 Low-medium

F3 Hawkesbury River to Calga Dual 14 76150 139 5 2.04068 High 7.34 Low-medium Interchange Calga Interchange to Wyong Dual 29 61050 193 5 1.35121 High 6.06 Low

Wyong to Ryhope Dual 33 36450 142 7 0.86280 High 6.49 Low

Ryhope to New England Highway Dual 30 29700 89 4 0.59286 High 5.47 Low

F6

Waterfall to Bulli Dual 20 35200 59 3 0.58212 High 4.53 Low Bulli to Wollongong (via Mt Ousley Dual 19 54450 177 2 1.87273 High 9.42 Low-medium Rd) Federal Hwy

Hume Highway to Collector Dual 24 12700 54 5 0.44738 High 9.65 Medium

Collector to ACT border Dual 42 11550 54 1 0.25765 Medium-high 6.11 Low

Great Western / Mitchell Hwy

Lapstone to Katoomba Mixed 42 29860 397 16 1.88346 High 17.28 High

Katoomba to Lithgow Mixed 37 12900 165 7 0.89348 High 18.98 High

Lithgow to Bathurst Mixed 51 10800 158 7 0.62317 High 15.81 Medium-high

Bathurst to Orange Single 47 9400 99 4 0.42359 High 12.35 Medium

Orange to Wellington Single 89 5520 108 2 0.24293 Medium-high 12.06 Medium

Wellington to Dubbo Single 40 5600 113 3 0.56524 High 27.65 High How Safe Are Our Roads? Rating Australia’s National Network for Risk – 2011 43

Collective Risk Rating Individual Risk Rating Traffic Casualty Length Deaths Annual average Annual average From-to Type Vehicles crashes km 2005-09 casualty crashes per casualty crashes per per day 2005-09 km 100 M veh-km

New South Wales

Hume Hwy

Narrellan Rd to Berrima Dual 73 35850 161 6 0.44173 High 3.38 Low

Berrima to Goulburn Dual 78 20850 166 11 0.42655 High 5.60 Low

Goulburn to Yass Dual 65 7450 109 13 0.33783 High 12.42 Medium-high

Yass to Coolac Dual 84 10900 67 3 0.15907 Medium 4.00 Low

Coolac to Tarcutta Mixed 61 11200 55 3 0.18066 Medium-high 4.42 Low

Tarcutta to Holbrook Mixed 67 8150 71 10 0.21310 Medium-high 7.16 Low-medium

Holbrook to Albury Mixed 58 9050 140 10 0.48410 High 14.66 Medium-high

New England Hwy

Branxton to Singleton Mixed 20 18500 77 7 0.75730 High 11.22 Medium

Singleton to Muswellbrook Single 40 14050 82 4 0.40649 High 7.93 Low-medium

Muswellbrook to Scone Single 20 12600 50 3 0.49946 High 10.86 Medium

Scone to Blandford [1] Single 33 8600 29 3 0.17447 Medium-high 5.56 Low

Blandford to Tamworth Single 91 4600 73 7 0.15961 Medium 9.51 Low-medium

Nemingha to Armidale Single 96 5750 91 7 0.19014 Medium-high 9.06 Low-medium

Armidale to Guyra Single 33 4200 30 3 0.17964 Medium-high 11.72 Medium

Guyra to Glen Innes Single 55 3750 38 0 0.13918 Medium 10.17 Medium

Glen Innes to QLD border Single 109 3100 65 6 0.11877 Medium 10.50 Medium

Newell Hwy

VIC border to Jerilderie Single 51 1852 12 1 0.04727 Low-medium 6.99 Low-medium

Jerilderie to Narrandera Single 106 1145 22 2 0.04147 Low-medium 9.93 Medium

Narrandera to West Wyalong Single 132 2310 44 6 0.06680 Low-medium 7.92 Low-medium

West Wyalong to Forbes Single 109 3353 37 4 0.06815 Low-medium 5.57 Low

Forbes to Parkes Single 30 3032 15 0 0.10053 Low-medium 9.08 Low-medium

Parkes to Dubbo Single 95 2997 47 6 0.09843 Low-medium 9.00 Low-medium

Brocklehurst to Gilgandra Single 57 3067 21 2 0.07343 Low-medium 6.56 Low

Gilgandra to Coonabarabran Single 91 2730 38 4 0.08371 Low-medium 8.40 Low-medium

Coonabarabran to Narrabri Single 114 2655 49 7 0.08626 Low-medium 8.90 Low-medium

Narrabri to Moree Single 89 3895 32 2 0.07216 Low-medium 5.08 Low

Moree to QLD border Single 113 3478 35 3 0.06190 Low-medium 4.88 Low

Pacific Hwy

Hexham to Karuah Dual 19 19600 112 7 1.16137 High 16.23 Medium-high

Karuah to Bulahdelah Mixed 45 16250 106 12 0.47049 High 7.93 Low-medium

Bulahdelah to Coolongolook Dual 22 11050 36 1 0.33147 High 8.22 Low-medium

Coolongolook to Nabiac [1] Dual 18 13550 16 1 0.17374 Medium 3.51 Low 44

Collective Risk Rating Individual Risk Rating Traffic Casualty Length Deaths Annual average Annual average From-to Type Vehicles crashes km 2005-09 casualty crashes per casualty crashes per per day 2005-09 km 100 M veh-km

New South Wales

Nabiac to Taree Dual 21 16050 50 2 0.47481 High 8.10 Low-medium

Taree to Coopernook Mixed 19 14500 30 3 0.31491 High 5.95 Low

Coopernook to Oxley Hwy Mixed 49 12650 108 8 0.44040 High 9.54 Low-medium

Oxley Hwy to Kempsey Single 40 13950 96 6 0.47548 High 9.34 Low-medium

Kempsey to Macksville Mixed 50 13150 92 4 0.36823 High 7.67 Low-medium

Macksville to Sawtell Mixed 47 14600 119 18 0.50316 High 9.44 Low-medium

Coffs Harbour to Grafton Mixed 76 21400 279 22 0.73900 High 9.46 Low-medium

Grafton to McLean Mixed 43 12100 64 6 0.29858 High 6.76 Low

McLean to Ballina Single 84 10900 206 17 0.49335 High 12.40 Medium-high

Ballina to Byron Bay Mixed 29 17250 132 11 0.91403 High 14.52 Medium-high

Byron Bay to Yelgun Mixed 22 17850 64 6 0.58845 High 9.03 Low-medium

Yelgun to Chinderah Dual 27 25650 86 4 0.63293 High 6.76 Low

Sturt Hwy

Hume Highway to Wagga Wagga Single 34 5150 93 1 0.53927 High 28.69 High

Wagga Wagga to Narrandera Single 91 1900 60 9 0.13234 Medium 19.08 High

Narrandera to Hay Single 169 2000 31 6 0.03658 Low-medium 5.01 Low

Hay to Balranald Single 128 1750 18 5 0.02813 Low 4.40 Low

Balranald to Euston Single 80 3100 10 2 0.02504 Low 2.21 Low

Euston to Mildura Single 69 6500 37 7 0.10689 Medium 4.51 Low

[1] Traffic volume has been estimated based on volumes on adjoining sections as there is no data for this length of road during the period 2005-2009. How Safe Are Our Roads? Rating Australia’s National Network for Risk – 2011 45

Collective Risk Rating Individual Risk Rating Traffic Casualty Length Deaths Annual average Annual average From-to Type Vehicles crashes km 2005-09 casualty crashes per casualty crashes per per day 2005-09 km 100 M veh-km

Victoria

Calder Highway Western Ring Road to Diggers Dual 17 45600 97 4 1.17433 High 7.06 Low-medium Rest Diggers Rest to Woodend Dual 42 18300 84 5 0.39769 High 5.95 Low

Woodend to Pyrenees Hwy Dual 32 9600 21 2 0.13125 Medium 3.75 Low

Pyrenees Hwy to Bendigo [1] Dual 36 10600 69 5 0.47678 High 12.32 Medium

Bendigo to Wedderburn Single 68 2800 32 2 0.09400 Low-medium 9.20 Low-medium

Wedderburn to Culgoa Single 98 1800 9 2 0.01831 Low 2.79 Low

Culgoa to Sunraysia Hwy Single 117 700 10 1 0.01706 Low 6.68 Low

Sunraysia Hwy to Mildura Single 105 2000 18 2 0.03432 Low-medium 4.70 Low

Goulburn Valley Highway

Seymour to Nagambie Mixed 20 7200 18 3 0.18038 Medium-high 6.86 Low-medium

Nagambie to Arcadia [2] Mixed 25 5700 15 3 0.11782 Medium 5.66 Low

Arcadia to Shepparton Mixed 19 7900 23 4 0.23590 Medium-high 8.18 Low-medium

Shepparton to Numurkah Single 30 4700 24 4 0.16146 Medium 9.41 Low-medium

Numurkah to NSW border Single 46 2600 24 5 0.10442 Low-medium 11.00 Medium

Hume Highway Metropolitan Ring Road to Hume Dual 14 17200 41 2 0.71185 High 11.34 Medium Highway (Craigieburn bypass) [3] Craigieburn to Seymour Dual 73 18000 148 4 0.40807 High 6.21 Low

Seymour to Euroa Dual 48 9100 58 8 0.24294 Medium-high 7.31 Low-medium

Euroa to Winton Dual 56 9100 55 4 0.19556 Medium-high 5.89 Low

Winton to Springhurst Dual 58 10400 56 7 0.19267 Medium-high 5.08 Low

Springhurst to NSW border [4] Dual 44 12300 75 1 0.34091 High 7.59 Low-medium

Princes Highway East

Pakenham to Warragul [5] Dual 36 16300 36 1 0.20230 Medium-high 3.40 Low

Warragul to Trafalgar Dual 18 17300 44 3 0.49075 High 7.77 Low-medium

Trafalgar to Strzelecki Hwy Dual 21 18500 40 1 0.38624 High 5.72 Low

Strzelecki Hwy to Traralgon Dual 14 19500 66 3 0.95316 High 13.39 Medium-high

Traralgon to Rosedale Single 20 12100 47 4 0.48187 High 10.91 Medium

Rosedale to Sale Single 23 7900 43 3 0.37315 High 12.94 Medium-high 46

Collective Risk Rating Individual Risk Rating Traffic Casualty Length Deaths Annual average Annual average From-to Type Vehicles crashes km 2005-09 casualty crashes per casualty crashes per per day 2005-09 km 100 M veh-km

Victoria

Princes Highway West Western Ring Road to Hoppers Dual 12 124700 149 5 2.58437 High 5.68 Low Crossing Hoppers Crossing to Little River Dual 17 50100 41 4 0.47442 High 2.59 Low

Little River to Geelong Dual 18 43200 28 1 0.31158 High 1.98 Low

Geelong to Winchelsea [6] Single 29 7700 35 2 0.23891 Medium-high 8.50 Low-medium

Winchelsea to Colac [6] Single 38 5800 38 3 0.20074 Medium-high 9.48 Low-medium

Sturt Highway

Mildura to SA border Single 110 1600 20 2 0.03645 Low-medium 6.24 Low

Western Highway

Western Ring Road to Melton [7] Dual 19 43500 238 5 2.46650 High 15.53 Medium-high

Melton to Ballan Dual 38 20700 114 4 0.59267 High 7.84 Low-medium

Ballan to Ballarat (Sunraysia Hwy) Dual 44 13400 59 3 0.26812 Medium-high 5.48 Low Ballarat (Sunraysia Hwy) to Mixed 36 5300 24 2 0.13479 Medium 6.97 Low-medium Beaufort Beaufort to Ararat Single 41 4800 26 0 0.12672 Medium 7.23 Low-medium

Ararat to Stawell Single 24 5400 19 0 0.15700 Medium 7.97 Low-medium

Stawell to Horsham Single 60 4100 54 4 0.17937 Medium-high 11.99 Medium

Horsham to Nhill Single 69 3200 34 0 0.09861 Low-medium 8.44 Low-medium

Nhill to SA border Single 63 2300 24 4 0.07636 Low-medium 9.10 Low-medium

Western Ring Road Princes Highway West to Western Dual 8 103100 91 0 2.27087 High 6.03 Low Highway Western Highway to Calder Dual 8 107900 132 2 3.35314 High 8.51 Low-medium Highway Calder Highway to Hume Freeway Dual 10 110700 253 3 4.87231 High 12.06 Medium

[1] The Ravenswood duplication was completed in May 2005 and the Harcourt duplication was completed April 2009, so crash numbers are likely to reduce in future years. [2] The Arcadia duplication opened in February 2008, so crash numbers are likely to reduce in future years. [3] Analysis is for a four year period only as the Craigieburn bypass opened in December 2005. [4] This link has been extended to include the Albury/Wodonga bypass which was completed in March 2007. While this is likely to slightly underestimate the total number of crashes this is likely to be small as no crashes were recorded on the bypass from 2007-2009. [5] This segment has been shortened to exclude the Pakenham Bypass which opened in December 2007 and is considered to be a metropolitan road. [6] These links were added to the National Highway Network in 2009, however five years of data has been used. [7] The Deer Park Bypass opened in April 2009. While this has been excluded for this analysis, it is likely to lead to a reduction in crashes in future years compared to the Western Hwy/Ballarat Rd link. How Safe Are Our Roads? Rating Australia’s National Network for Risk – 2011 47

Collective Risk Rating Individual Risk Rating Traffic Casualty Length Deaths Annual average Annual average From-to Type Vehicles crashes km 2005-09 casualty crashes per casualty crashes per per day 2005-09 km 100 M veh-km

Queensland

Bruce Highway

Bald Hills to Caloundra Dual 61 50500 623 17 2.03327 High 11.03 Medium

Caloundra to Cooroy Dual 41 27700 245 5 1.20642 High 11.93 Medium

Cooroy to Gympie Single 40 14800 155 24 0.77634 High 14.37 Medium-high

Gympie to Childers Single 138 8000 271 28 0.39223 High 13.43 Medium-high

Childers to Miriam Vale Single 152 3000 202 14 0.26614 Medium-high 24.31 High

Miriam Vale to Rockhampton Single 164 4000 206 15 0.25088 Medium-high 17.18 High

Rockhampton to St Lawrence Single 165 2500 107 17 0.12940 Medium 14.18 Medium-high

St Lawrence to Sarina Single 118 2500 89 8 0.15139 Medium 16.59 High

Sarina to Mackay Single 25 8700 108 6 0.84829 High 26.71 High

Mackay to Proserpine Single 118 4200 153 15 0.26005 Medium-high 16.96 High

Proserpine to Ayr Single 160 2900 163 13 0.20374 Medium-high 19.25 High

Ayr to Townsville Single 74 5200 78 9 0.21178 Medium-high 11.16 Medium

Townsville to Ingham Single 100 6600 183 10 0.36612 High 15.20 Medium-high

Ingham to Innisfail Single 137 3900 144 14 0.20995 Medium-high 14.75 Medium-high

Innisfail to Cairns Single 60 5400 142 9 0.47499 High 24.10 High

Flinders Hwy

Townsville to Charters Towers Single 122 2200 59 7 0.09663 Low-medium 12.03 Medium

Charters Towers to Hughenden Single 245 700 37 4 0.03016 Low 11.80 Medium

Hughenden to Richmond Single 117 500 9 1 0.01534 Low 8.40 Low-medium

Richmond to Julia Creek Single 148 400 11 0 0.01487 Low 10.18 Medium

Julia Creek to Barkly Hwy Single 123 400 15 1 0.02443 Low 16.73 High

Gore/Leichhardt Hwy

Toowoomba to Yandilla Single 64 3100 46 3 0.14272 Medium 12.61 Medium-high

Yandilla to NSW border Single 155 1700 64 7 0.08263 Low-medium 13.32 Medium-high

New England/Cunningham Hwy

Ipswich to Willowbank Dual 18 18700 100 2 1.11440 High 16.33 Medium-high

Willowbank to Kalbar Single 37 5200 39 1 0.20900 Medium-high 11.01 Medium

Kalbar to Warwick Single 68 4900 98 16 0.28823 High 16.12 Medium-high

Warwick to Stanthorpe Single 57 3700 29 3 0.10158 Low-medium 7.52 Low-medium

Stanthorpe to NSW border Single 36 3000 25 1 0.13841 Medium 12.64 Medium-high

Pacific Motorway Gateway Motorway to Logan Dual 15 109100 370 2 5.01246 High 12.59 Medium-high Motorway Logan Motorway to Smith Street Dual 35 106500 441 11 2.51104 High 6.46 Low Fwy 48

Collective Risk Rating Individual Risk Rating Traffic Casualty Length Deaths Annual average Annual average From-to Type Vehicles crashes km 2005-09 casualty crashes per casualty crashes per per day 2005-09 km 100 M veh-km

Queensland Smith Street Fwy to NSW border Dual 29 71000 529 12 3.70661 High 14.30 Medium-high [1] Warrego / Landsborough / Barkly Hwy

Cunningham Hwy to Gatton Dual 55 23700 404 20 1.46190 High 16.90 High

Gatton to Helidon Dual 20 12600 29 1 0.28852 High 6.27 Low

Helidon to Toowoomba Dual 16 17600 63 2 0.76867 High 11.97 Medium

Toowoomba to Dalby Single 74 5800 94 14 0.25510 Medium-high 12.05 Medium

Dalby to Roma Single 262 1600 156 7 0.11898 Medium 20.37 High

Roma to Morven Single 175 800 29 3 0.03320 Low-medium 11.37 Medium

Morven to Barcaldine Single 413 400 28 1 0.01355 Low 9.28 Low-medium

Barcaldine to Winton Single 285 500 29 0 0.02036 Low 11.16 Medium

Winton to Flinders Hwy Single 334 200 23 0 0.01376 Low 18.85 High

Flinders Hwy to Mt Isa Single 131 1400 45 9 0.06847 Low-medium 13.40 Medium-high

Mt Isa to NT border Single 195 500 43 1 0.04412 Low-medium 24.17 High

[1] This link may include crashes on the Pacific Motorway section that was replaced by the Tugun Bypass, prior to the bypass opening in June 2008. How Safe Are Our Roads? Rating Australia’s National Network for Risk – 2011 49

Collective Risk Rating Individual Risk Rating Traffic Casualty Length Deaths Annual average Annual average From-to Type Vehicles crashes km 2005-09 casualty crashes per casualty crashes per per day 2005-09 km 100 M veh-km

South Australia

Eyre Highway

WA Border to Yalata Single 279 380 10 1 0.00716 Low 5.16 Low

Yalata to Fowlers Bay Single 95 380 11 1 0.02318 Low 16.71 High

Fowlers Bay to Ceduna Single 106 690 15 6 0.02833 Low 11.25 Medium

Ceduna to Kyancutta Single 219 610 23 2 0.02104 Low 9.45 Low-medium

Kyancutta to Lincoln Hwy Single 219 710 26 1 0.02373 Low 9.16 Low-medium

Lincoln Hwy to Port Augusta Single 23 2400 8 1 0.06905 Low-medium 7.88 Low-medium

Stuart Highway

NT Border to Coober Pedy Single 391 370 45 11 0.02302 Low 17.04 High

Coober Pedy to Woomera Single 365 370 29 1 0.01588 Low 11.76 Medium

Woomera to Port Augusta Single 170 800 38 3 0.04472 Low-medium 15.31 Medium-high

Pt Augusta / Pt Wakefield Road

Port Augusta to Port Pirie Single 82 3250 24 1 0.05841 Low-medium 4.92 Low

Port Pirie to Bute Single 73 3300 50 5 0.13746 Medium 11.41 Medium

Bute to Port Wakefield Single 50 3500 32 4 0.12877 Medium 10.08 Medium Port Wakefield to Old Port Dual 68 8150 112 6 0.33053 High 11.11 Medium Wakefield Rd Sturt Highway

Gawler Bypass to Daveyston Single 16 7950 21 2 0.26482 Medium-high 9.13 Low-medium

Daveyston to Truro Single 26 4650 21 0 0.16349 Medium 9.63 Medium

Truro to Blanchetown Single 48 2800 26 1 0.10915 Medium 10.68 Medium

Blanchetown to Barmera Single 88 2900 48 7 0.10874 Medium 10.27 Medium

Barmera to Berri Single 15 2750 12 2 0.16140 Medium 16.08 Medium-high

Berri to Renmark Single 12 7450 12 2 0.20287 Medium-high 7.46 Low-medium

Paringa to VIC Border Single 22 1700 4 1 0.03651 Low-medium 5.88 Low

South East Freeway Crafers Interchange to Verdun Dual 9 33800 49 2 1.07104 High 8.68 Low-medium Interchange Verdun Interchange to Mt Barker Dual 8 22800 15 0 0.36720 High 4.41 Low Interchange Mt Barker Interchange to Tailem Dual 67 9250 51 2 0.15158 Medium 4.49 Low Bend Dukes Highway

Tailem Bend to Keith Single 126 3650 54 18 0.08592 Low-medium 6.45 Low

Keith to Bordertown Single 46 2650 15 4 0.06556 Low-medium 6.78 Low

Bordertown to VIC Border Single 19 1900 13 1 0.13535 Medium 19.52 High 50

Collective Risk Rating Individual Risk Rating Traffic Casualty Length Deaths Annual average Annual average From-to Type Vehicles crashes km 2005-09 casualty crashes per casualty crashes per per day 2005-09 km 100 M veh-km

Western Australia

Great Eastern / Coolgardie Esperance / Eyre Highway

Mundaring to The Lakes [1] Mixed 14 9416 21 0 0.48679 High 14.16 Medium-high

The Lakes to Northam Single 42 4688 47 5 0.22450 Medium-high 13.12 Medium-high

Northam to Southern Cross Single 278 1633 96 4 0.06918 Low-medium 11.61 Medium

Southern Cross to Coolgardie Single 188 1055 49 1 0.05215 Low-medium 13.55 Medium-high

Coolgardie to Norseman Single 164 549 25 1 0.03044 Low 15.20 Medium-high

Norseman to Caiguna Single 371 400 26 4 0.01402 Low 9.60 Medium

Caiguna to SA Border Single 350 400 15 2 0.00858 Low 5.88 Low

Great Northern / Victoria Highway

Muchea to Wubin Single 216 1206 54 7 0.04991 Low-medium 11.34 Medium

Wubin to Meekathara Single 493 757 26 1 0.01055 Low 3.82 Low

Meekathara to Newman Single 414 757 24 6 0.01159 Low 4.19 Low

Newman to NW Coastal T/Off Single 447 727 52 6 0.02328 Low 8.77 Low-medium NW Coastal T/Off to Sandfire Single 281 470 15 1 0.01069 Low 6.23 Low Roadhouse Sandfire Roadhouse to Broome Single 286 370 19 7 0.01329 Low 9.84 Medium T/Off Broome T/Off to Fitzroy Crossing Single 362 370 29 6 0.01602 Low 11.86 Medium

Fitzroy Crossing to Halls Creek Single 289 370 29 5 0.02008 Low 14.87 Medium-high

Halls Creek to Kununurra T/Off Single 312 387 34 3 0.02181 Low 15.44 Medium-high

Wyndham T/Off to NT Border Single 88 697 23 3 0.05257 Low-medium 20.67 High

Perth-Bunbury Highway

Dawesville to Preston Beach Mixed 35 8907 60 11 0.34612 High 10.65 Medium

Preston Beach to Bunbury Dual 53 11207 132 14 0.49981 High 12.22 Medium

[1] The section from Mundaring to the Lakes uses data for a three year period only (2007-2009) due to a road realignment carried out in September 2006. How Safe Are Our Roads? Rating Australia’s National Network for Risk – 2011 51

Collective Risk Rating Individual Risk Rating Traffic Casualty Length Deaths Annual average Annual average From-to Type Vehicles crashes km 2005-09 casualty crashes per casualty crashes per per day 2005-09 km 100 M veh-km

Tasmania

Midland Highway Rifle Range Rd to Quoin Rd Single 17 6400 23 11 0.27059 Medium-high 11.58 Medium underpass Quoin Rd underpass to Lower Single 22 4400 18 3 0.16364 Medium 10.19 Medium Marshes Rd Lower Marshes Rd to Sorell Single 24 4400 28 2 0.23333 Medium-high 14.53 Medium-high Springs Rd Sorell Springs Rd to Campbell Single 36 4600 29 5 0.16111 Medium 9.60 Medium Town Campbell Town to Evandale Main Mixed 49 6000 48 12 0.19592 Medium-high 8.95 Low-medium Rd Evandale Main Rd to Howick Street Single 10 15200 38 3 0.76000 High 13.70 Medium-high

Bass Highway Midland Hwy to Hagley Station St Mixed 23 9900 26 3 0.22609 Medium-high 6.26 Low overpass Hagley Station St overpass to Mixed 32 8200 42 3 0.26250 Medium-high 8.77 Low-medium Railton Rd Railton Rd to Parramatta Creek Single 17 7600 26 10 0.30588 High 11.03 Medium Parramatta Creek to Victoria Single 22 10700 55 2 0.50000 High 12.80 Medium-high Bridge Victoria Bridge to Forth River Single 12 13400 48 6 0.80000 High 16.36 Medium-high Bridge Forth River Bridge to Knights Rd Single 11 13000 9 1 0.16364 Medium 3.45 Low

Knights Rd to Nine Mile Rd Single 14 14300 14 0 0.20000 Medium-high 3.83 Low

Nine Mile Rd to Stowport Rd Dual 8 14700 33 7 0.82500 High 15.38 Medium-high

East Tamar Highway Alanvale Connector to Dalrymple Dual 20 5100 35 2 0.35000 High 18.80 High Rd Dalrymple Rd to Bell Bay Rd Dual 21 4400 32 0 0.30476 High 18.98 High

Tasman Highway

Macquarie St to Holyman Ave [1] Dual 16 34300 70 1 0.87500 High 6.99 Low-medium

Brooker Highway

Burnett St to Berriedale Rd [1] Dual 9 38100 162 3 3.60000 High 25.89 High

Berriedale Rd to Granton [1] Dual 8 25400 25 0 0.62500 High 6.74 Low

[1] These links were added to the National Highway Network in 2009, however five years of data has been used. 52

Collective Risk Rating Individual Risk Rating Traffic Casualty Length Deaths Annual average Annual average From-to Type Vehicles crashes km 2005-09 casualty crashes per casualty crashes per per day 2005-09 km 100 M veh-km

Northern Territory

Barkly Highway

Stuart Hwy to Wunara Single 281 220 13 1 0.00926 Low 11.54 Medium

Wunara to QLD border Single 153 230 10 0 0.01306 Low 15.56 Medium-high

Stuart Hwy

Darwin to Pine Creek Single 192 1300 262 28 0.27324 Medium-high 57.59 High

Pine Creek to Katherine Single 90 1300 20 3 0.04469 Low-medium 9.42 Low-medium

Katherine to Daly Waters Single 271 500 25 5 0.01847 Low 10.12 Medium

Daly Waters to Helen Springs Single 260 400 23 2 0.01772 Low 12.14 Medium

Helen Springs to Barkly Hwy Single 117 400 12 1 0.02044 Low 14.00 Medium-high

Barkly Hwy to Stirling Single 281 400 30 6 0.02135 Low 14.62 Medium-high

Stirling to Alice Springs Single 249 1000 46 8 0.03697 Low-medium 10.13 Medium

Alice Springs to SA border Single 290 400 50 12 0.03444 Low-medium 23.59 High

Victoria Hwy

Katherine to Timber Creek Single 285 500 19 4 0.01334 Low 7.31 Low-medium

Timber Creek to WA border Single 184 200 4 2 0.00434 Low 5.95 Low

Australian Capital Territory

Barton Highway

ACT border to Federal Highway Dual 12 16800 37 1 0.61667 High 10.06 Medium

Federal Highway

ACT border to Antill Street Dual 8 18000 13 1 0.32500 High 4.95 Low

For more information or copies of AusRAP reports contact:

Australian Road Assessment Program (AusRAP) C/O Australian Automobile Association (AAA) 103 Northbourne Avenue, Canberra ACT 2601

Email [email protected] Web www.ausrap.org or www.aaa.asn.au Phone +61 2 6247 7311

Alternatively, contact the Automobile Club in your state or territory. Material in this publication may be reproduced or quoted provided AAA is acknowledged. © Australian Road Assessment Program (AusRAP) 2011

June 2012