A new safety treatment known as the Rural Intersection Activated Warning System (RIAWS) will soon be installed at the intersection of Windermere and Hummock Roads to reduce the risk of severe accidents.
The RIAWS will detect when a vehicle on Hummock Road is approaching or standing at the intersection and activate warning signs for drivers on Windermere Road.
The installation of the warning system signage will be the first use of this technology in Queensland.
The signs will remain inactive under normal conditions but will activate a 60 km/h speed limit when vehicles are detected approaching the intersection or stopped at the Hummock Road stop lines.
Roads and Infrastructure (urban) portfolio spokesperson Cr Larine Statham-Blair said since 2015, the intersection has had eight serious crashes, including one fatality.
Cr Statham-Blair said the primary goal of the RIAWS was to alert drivers on Windermere Road to the risk of potential crashes with vehicles travelling through the intersection from Hummock Road.
“Over the past five years the frequency of accidents at this intersection has increased and now action is required,” Cr Statham-Blair said.
“Adjusting vehicle speeds in high-risk areas like this will significantly reduce the likelihood of severe crashes.”
Cr Statham-Blair said work to install the Rural Intersection Activated Warning Signs, which will take place in mid-January 2025, will be minimal but the benefit of reducing the risk of crashes in the community will be considerable.
Existing Vehicle Activated Signs, which were installed on Hummock Road in 2020, will be upgraded as part of the project.
This $175,000 project is fully funded under the Australian Government’s Black Spot Program, which provides funding for low-cost, high-benefit improvements on the road network to address actual or potential crashes that lead to high severity outcomes (fatalities and hospitalisations).
This is a very good move Larine as for motorists like myself who drive a manual it takes extra time to come up through the gears and get up to 80 k/h on Windermere. Also cross traffic on to hummock RD have to be given way also. This is a very dangerous intersection for turning traffic, and Bargara road traffic intersection needs to be widened also or have the same device installed… Thank you for doing this safety measure.
Who in this madness do you think anyone would slow down. What is needed is the technology to remotely slow vehicles down, not only this situation but all roads. Also technology to back of tail gaters.
What about Bargara – Hughes road intersection Multiple accidents here
need something put in place here before a Fatality
Some cars on Windermere Road follow safe stopping distances, and a lot do not, often tailgating the vehicle in front of them. Hopefully the tailgaters do not crash into the rear of the vehicles in front who are slowing down to 60km/h on Windermere Road.
There needs to be a series of speed humps or ripple strips installed on both the northern and southern approaches of Hummock Road, to slow down speeding vehicles on this road. Even though there is a 60km/h speed limit on both approaches of Hummock Road, those vehicles still tend to speed up to the stop lines, with some even running straight over the stop lines.
Visability needs to be improved and the power pole relocated.
This additional safety measure is appreciated, but if drivers cannot see each other they may not slow.