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October 25, 2010
I've been working on a new series or project based on me being down at Victor Harbor. It is landscapes with road signs that signify death and injuries on the Victor Harbor Road. As I drive up and down the road I kept on noticing the accident markers. These are mostly after McLaren Vale as the road winds through the southern part of the Mt Lofty Ranges down to the coast.
Gary Sauer-Thompson, road signs, from Highway of Death
The red post accident marker represents injuries caused by a car crash. The black post accident marker represents fatalities.
Gary Sauer-Thompson, road signs, from Highway of Death
There have been, and continue to be, a staggering amount of accidents on this road. The Department of Transport has said its mostly driver error (speed +booze), but a lot of the accidents have been caused by a lot of traffic to and from Victor Harbor with very few passing lanes. The road has since been upgraded with passing lanes.
The accidents continue, though not as frequently.
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In reality, this stretch of road is relatively short, not even 50kms, and yet it has this almost mythic ability to be the harbinger of death & injury.
The public almost will never be happy unless it is turned into a perfectly straight dual carriageway, preferably sealed from the outside world. No chance of rain or other precipitation to impede the speed with which we feel it is our right to travel, no matter how short the distance.
I wish that the road would be made with more bends and things of interest and no passing lanes. Let the drive itself be an experience, something that is surprising and new each time.
Let us be active drivers and drive according to the conditions of the road and the environment rather than expect the road to ensure our safety regardless of how we drive.