The Queensland Minister for Main Roads Craig Wallace has issued a timely warning over idiots driving through speed-restricted works zone.
You can see it every day and night on the Ipswich Motorway between Dinmore and Darra with lead foots flashing through roadsworks areas endangering workers lives.
It's next to impossible to catch offenders with radar guns because there is nowhere to pull them over.
Perhaps, the State Government should introduce speed cameras routinely in works zones around the state.
The hip pocket is a powerful tool in traffic enforcement and the only one which seems to work.
Graphic pictures, ministerial pleas and police warnings are routinely ignored by these speedsters.
Most people baulk at so-called revenue raising enforcement where drivers are caught a few clicks over the limit but no one should object to strenuous traffic enforcement aimed at saving road workers from death or serious injury.
This is the text of the Minister's Media Release:
Minister for Main Roads
The Honourable Craig Wallace
06/09/2009
Slow down and obey the signs, Minister urges
Main Roads Minister Craig Wallace is urging motorists to slow down and keep calm while driving through roadworks, following continued reports of poor driver behaviour across the state.
Mr Wallace said while the department's Safety Around Roadworks campaign had been successful in raising awareness, some motorists were still putting roadworkers' lives at risk by driving aggressively and impatiently through roadwork sites.
"Since the launch of the safety campaign in 2005, there has been increased awareness in the community on safety around roadworks, however we are still hearing about poor driver behaviour resulting in casualties at roadworks," he said.
"Few worksites present as many risks as do roadworks, and drivers have to realise when they ignore reduced speed limits and drive dangerously through these sites, they are endangering the lives of the men and women who are simply trying to do their jobs.
"These workers are helping to deliver a record road construction program to benefit Queenslanders, and while I understand the frustration motorists sometimes feel as a result of roadworks, there is simply no need for drivers to take their frustrations out on workers."
Mr Wallace said statistics show that from 2005 to 2008, there were 71 reported casualties as a result of crashes where roadworks were one contributing factor.
"These statistics do not include the many incidents which are not reported or the types of road user behaviour some roadworkers experience daily.
"The Roadworker Safety Hotline, which is open to Transport and Main Roads employees, has received 82 calls this year, with reports of workers receiving verbal abuse, vehicles weaving into the worksite, and even objects being hurled at workers," he said.
"In June alone there were 12 reported incidents of dangerous driver behaviour.
"Of those, four involved drivers speeding and eight involved motorists failing to stop at either traffic lights or hand-held signage. Several involved drivers ignoring signage and entering closed off lanes, into the path of oncoming traffic.
"In one particular case, a motorist ignored a traffic controller's instructions and proceeded to drive through witches hats and barriers and entered a closed off lane, driving over an island and across southbound lanes."
Mr Wallace said it was disturbing that some of the incidents even involved professional drivers.
"Roadworkers have witnessed truck drivers and bus drivers speeding and ignoring traffic directions," he said.
"And it seems that even children think it's okay to disrespect roadworkers, with one busload of children pelting a work crew with food from a school bus window.
"People have got to get the message that this is kind of behaviour is not okay - it's disrespectful, it's foolish and it's downright dangerous."
Mr Wallace said motorists driving without due care faced fines and demerit points, and the cost of damage to their vehicles.
"The majority of drivers drive sensibly around roadworks, but a minority show either complete disregard or ignorance of the potential risks," he said.
"There is no excuse for some of the appalling driver behaviour roadworkers have to put up with, and the department is working hard to address this and get the message through to motorists.
"It's simple - slow down, drive to changed conditions and obey signage and road traffic controllers' directions."
..........................
PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au
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