A further 53 dangerous crash sites on Queensland roads will be upgraded thanks to a $22.1 million funding injection through the Australian Government’s Black Spot Program.
The Black Spot Program funds safety measures such as traffic signals and roundabouts at locations where a number of serious crashes are known to have occurred, or are at risk of occurring.
This funding is part of the Government’s $1.3 billion commitment to the Black Spot Program from 2013-14 to 2025-26 to improve road safety across the nation.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Barnaby Joyce said the Government’s investment would continue to make roads safer across the nation.
“The Government is committed to reducing deaths on our roads and sparing families from the immeasurable impact these tragedies have,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.
“Funding under the Black Spot Program will deliver much-needed safety upgrades to some of the most dangerous sections of our roads, making them safer and keeping commuters and freight moving.
“The Government is investing more than $25 billion in road safety projects over the next four years.”
Assistant Minister for Road Safety and Freight Transport Scott Buchholz said the 53 Black Spot projects across Queensland would make an important contribution towards reducing serious injuries and deaths on the state’s roads, and built on previous investments in the state.
“This Government is investing in road safety right across the nation to ensure Australians get home sooner and safer,” Assistant Minister Buchholz said.
“This new funding will see total investment through the Black Spot Program in Queensland rise to $211.9 million, demonstrating our ongoing commitment to improving road safety.”
Chair of the Queensland Black Spot Consultative Panel Llew O’Brien said this investment in black spot projects would deliver safer roads in local government areas throughout the state.
“The Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics has found that Black Spot projects reduce the number of crashes causing death and injury by 30 per cent on average,” Mr O’Brien said.
“The high-priority locations we are funding have seen a total of six fatal and 233 crashes causing injuries recorded over the past five years.
“The panel that reviews priorities for the program includes representatives from the Queensland Police Service, Royal Automobile Club of Queensland, Queensland Trucking Association, Bicycle Queensland, Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety (Queensland University of Technology), Traffic Management Association of Australia, the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia and state and local government.”
