During 1 January to 3 May 2021, there were 90 fatalities as a result of motor vehicle crashes within Queensland, which is 19 fatalities greater than the same period for the previous year and 17 fatalities greater than the previous five-year average for the same period.[i]
There has been a 25% increase in the number of fatal road crashes in South East Queensland since this time last year.[ii]
These are highly concerning statistics. With our Region becoming more sought-after in recent times, the volume of road-users is likely to increase in the next decade, which is a frightening thought if our road/traffic infrastructure is not kept up to the task.
Whilst we should always be taking care when on the roads, we have compiled a list of the worst offending Sunshine Coast roads (by number of reported crashes) over the last decade[iii] to raise awareness of some particularly hazardous areas-
| 1. | Bruce Highway (858) |
| 2. | Sunshine Motorway, Sippy Downs/Maroochydore (422) |
| 3. | Nicklin Way, Kawana Waters (306) |
| 4. | Maroochydore-Noosa Road, Coolum/Maroochydore/Pacific Paradise (295) |
| 5. | Caloundra Road, Caloundra/Little Mountain (237) |
| 6. | Mooloolaba Road, Maroochydore (192) |
| 7. | Maroochydore-Mooloolaba Road, Maroochydore/Alexandra Headland (149) |
| 8. | Glasshouse Mountains Road, Glasshouse Mountains (123) |
| 9. | Maroochydore Road, Maroochydore/Forest Glen/Kunda Park (116) |
| 10. | Maleny-Kenilworth Road, Kenilworth (86) |
| 11. | Nambour Connection Road, Nambour (85) |
| 12. | Nambour-Mapleton Road, Nambour (82) |
| 13. | Landsborough-Maleny Road, Landsborough (72) |
| 14. | Kilcoy-Beerwah Road, Beerwah (72) |
| 15. | Maroochy Blvd, Maroochydore (70) |
| 16. | Nambour-Bli Bli Road, Nambour (66) |
| 17. | Yandina-Coolum Road, Coolum Beach (63) |
| 18. | Emu Mountain Road, Peregian Springs (61) |
| 29. | Brisbane Road, Mooloolaba (58) |
| 20. | Kawana Way, Kawana Waters (51) |
| 21. | Eumundi-Noosa Road, Eumundi (51) |
There is no surprise the Bruce Highway has taken the top spot. The relatively new Maroochy Blvd is a bit of an unexpected feature.
Speed and drink/drug driving remain the largest contributors to fatal accidents in the Region according to the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads data[iv].
[i] https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Safety/Transport-and-road-statistics/Road-safety-statistics
[ii] Ibid.
[iii] https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/crash-data-from-queensland-roads
[iv] [iv] https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Safety/Transport-and-road-statistics/Road-safety-statistics