AS FUNDING has been locked in for the Pacific Hwy, improving the Princes Hwy is now the NRMA’s number one priority.
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So said former NRMA director Alan Evans and new director Kate Lundy, who were touring the South Coast last week to discuss issues affecting motorists in the region.
Mr Evans – who spent 12 years as director and campaigned for the Bega Bypass - was introducing Ms Lundy to key stakeholders in the region, and she was getting a feel for local roads, infrastructure and safety issues.
Ms Lundy said she had a dream for the Princes Hwy, and that was for it to become a dual carriageway from beginning to end with cheap petrol the whole way.
She said the costs of injuries and crashes along highways were enormous, so a dual carriageway would be a good investment as it would reduce accidents and therefore costs.
While this is a long-term goal, Ms Lundy said in Mr Evans’ time a dual carriageway had been extended a long way south along the Princes Hwy from Wollongong, so she hopes to continue the work further.
Another priority for the NRMA is reducing mobile phone blackspots.
Mr Evans said in his experience there is often a blackspot before and outside of town.
“If you had a crash or an incident and needed help, there’s no coverage,” he said.
“This is a genuine safety issue.”
He said if you break down late at night and you are in a blackspot, then often there is not a lot of traffic passing by and you might have to wait until morning for a car to stop and help you.
The visiting NRMA representatives also discussed the Seeing Red on Roads campaign, instigated to provide motorists the opportunity to tell the NRMA which roads are the worst in their region.
Ms Lundy said if people spot something dangerous on the roads, this is the month to have their voices heard as voting for the campaign is now open.
In the 2014 campaign, South Coast motorists dropped the most red flags on the Princes Hwy south of Jervis Bay due to its narrow lanes and poor surface, followed by Kings Hwy at Clyde Mountain.
The section near Jervis Bay even made the top four of the worst roads across NSW and the ACT.
To vote in the Seeing Red on Roads campaign visit www.mynrma.com.au/redflag.
It is open to motorists, cyclists and pedestrians, and voting closes on July 31.