Assistant Minister for Road Safety and Freight Transport, Scott Buchholz recently visited Far North Queensland and inspected several rest areas between Cairns and Georgetown, jointly funded under the Rest Area Upgrade Program, part of the federal government’s $3 billion Road Safety Program (RSP).
Across tranches 1 and 2 of the RSP the Federal Government is reportedly investing more than $26 million across Queensland to deliver upgraded rest areas that for motorists and heavy vehicle drivers transporting goods.
“The rest areas I have been visiting, are going to make a substantial difference to addressing driver fatigue, especially on Far North Queensland roads that often feature long, straight stretches,” said Buchholz.
“These upgraded rest areas are going to provide better facilities to encourage road users to stop, revive and survive.”
Over the past five years, fatigue has been a significant factor in crashes on Queensland roads and that’s why Federal Government programs such as the RSP are so critical in delivering safer road infrastructure such as rest areas which reduce fatigue related accidents for all road users.
“Driver fatigue is a killer on our roads and for these rest areas to work in addressing fatigue, people have to use them, you have to pull over, get out and stretch your legs. These investments are only as good as the drivers using the,” Buchholz said.
More information on the upgrade programs in Queensland can be found here.