Bold signage *undulating, *slippery when wet, *narrow road Speed reduction and enforce it Rumple strips on the side, middle and across to get attention Medium term (2 – 3 months) Resurfacing – right of the camber, take out undulations and bitumen right across from guard rail to guard rail The short term points wouldn’t cost much and could be implemented quickly, with the medium term point, it may cost more however I don’t think you could put a $ figure on any accident that claims lives on innocent people and my deepest sympathy once again goes out to that family. There maybe more that can be done. I am not a road engineer and I am purely making some suggestions to try and restrict the number of casualties this section of road takes. This is my opinion but I am sure I speak on behalf of many others, so I would appreciate if you could consider my request and advise me on same so quick and responsive action can be taken before it is too late for someone else’s family.' Letter from Dean Brown MP to Minister for Transport 21 November 2001 On 21 November 2001, the Honourable Dean MP wrote to the Honourable Diana Laidlaw MLC, Minister for Transport and Urban Planning, attaching a copy of Mr Raper’s letter. Mr Brown endorsed the concerns expressed by Mr Raper as follows: 'You would be aware that the most recent accident was fatal and I request that urgent attention be given to this portion of the road to ensure that it is made as safe as possible and that appropriate warnings are placed for motorists using the road.' Ministerial request for information from Transport SA employees The receipt of Mr Brown’s letter created a flurry of activity within the Department from 23 November 2001. An email was sent to the Manager of the Eastern Region of Transport SA, Peter Tymukas, on behalf of the Minister, attaching a copy of Mr Brown’s letter and Mr Raper’s letter. The email was regarded as a ‘ministerial’ which required a response and a draft reply for the Minister’s consideration by 5 December 2001. A bundle of Transport SA documents was introduced into evidence, following a Freedom of Information application by solicitors for Ms Hearl (the driver involved in the third fatal collision). The material includes some of the email communications between respective members of the Eastern Region in contemplation of a draft reply for Minister Laidlaw. These documents should have been provided in advance of the
extremely concerned about that because it was a ‘key asset management issue’ for the Eastern Region. He claimed that he was ‘absolutely flabbergasted and really cross’. On 27 2002, Mark Moreland, presumably on behalf of Mr Tymukas, requested that skid resistance testing to be conducted between MMP 21 and MMP 22 at Cactus Canyon. His request was directed to Grant Mackey via an email. Mr Mackey claimed in evidence that it was his idea that the road be tested to ensure that the Department had a record of the state of the road before re-paving work was done. Initially, testing was conducted on 5 April 2002 in error, between MMP 22 and MMP 23, rather than the requested location. That testing gave mean results above the intervention level at 0.66. There was however an area at about MMP 22.6 along the outer wheel paths of the eastern lane which gave a reading of only 0.38. The correct area was not tested for another four weeks. Meanwhile, several articles appeared in the local press expressing concern about the road following the collision in March 2002. Letter from Senior Constable Syrus to Minister for Transport SA On 10 April 2002, Senior Constable Syrus wrote to the Honourable Michael Wright MP, then Minister for Transport SA, setting out his concerns about the road surface. Senior Constable Syrus emphasised that when investigating the most recent collision, he could find no evidence that the southbound vehicle had moved onto the gravel verge before losing control. He explained how slippery the road was and described his concern about the undulations and the effect it had on vehicles as they negotiated the right-hand bend. Senior Constable Syrus also detailed his telephone conversation with Kevin Wynne and summarised the research he had undertaken, demonstrating that there was a pattern of crashes in that location in similar circumstances. The letter written by Senior Constable Syrus sets out a comprehensive analysis of the problem with the road. If Transport SA had not worked out the full extent of the problem by now, this letter could have left no doubt about it. He concluded by making a strong recommendation that speed reduction and hazard signs be installed to warn motorists travelling along that stretch of road. It took the Department almost five months to reply to this important letter from Senior Constable Syrus. Speed Zoning