THE Black Spur Road between Healesville and Narbethong is an iconic stretch passing through Melbourne’s catchment area and a National Park, and is featured in many car advertisements for good reason.
Constantly, the road has been built up, widened, re-sealed, signposted prolifically; speed restricted, and been under police surveillance.
At some point another sign, guard rail, speed limit change, safety rope barrier, police radar … is not going to reduce the crash rate.
If the speed limit is reduced any further, drivers will be falling asleep behind the wheel or rolling back down the hill.
Eighty kilometres per hour is the maximum speed limit, which doesn’t mean you have to do this speed round the corners.
Drive to suit the conditions.
It would be a fairly accurate guess to suspect drivers and their attitude to electronic devices is a contributing factor.
The road surface is supremely fine and smooth, and perhaps that isn’t well suited to mountain and winter conditions.
It seems to hold the water and reflects back headlights at night when wet.
Perhaps another type of road surface could improve traction.
But we cannot construct and control roads to cater for every possible hazard.
Australian road users just need to take their driving more seriously.
Nella Lithgow,
Healesville.
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