The safety improvement program is designed to reduce the number and severity of crashes on the road.

The treatments aim to address the most common types of crashes, speed related crashes, head on crashes, crashes on a wet road surface and run off the road crashes.

Since the start of the safety improvement program in January 2009 there has been:

• A decrease in the proportion of head on crashes from 14% to 12% of all crashes.
• A decrease in the proportion of speed related crashes from 30% to 20% of all crashes.
• An increase in the proportion of fatigue related crashes from 11% to 18% of crashes.
• A decrease in the proportion of fatal crashes involving heavy vehicles from 67% to 57% of crashes.
• An increase in the proportion of all crashes involving heavy vehicles from 19% to 24 % of crashes.
• An increase in the proportion of fatal crashes involving motorcycles from none to 17% of crashes.
• A decrease in the proportion of crashes occurring on a wet road surface from 38% to 30% of all crashes.

^2011 crash data is preliminary only and subject to change.

Number of crashes and casualties on Picton Road – 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2011^ graph

Number of crashes by type of crash on Picton Road graph

Crash history

Picton Road, between Mount Ousley Road and the Hume Highway, has had a poor crash history in recent years involving both light and heavy vehicles. The $40.9 million program of safety improvements have been designed to address the most common types of crashes occurring along the route.

Between 1 January 2005 and 20 January 2011* there were:

• 170 crashes.
• 12 fatal crashes that resulted in 16 deaths.
• 65 of the crashes resulted in injuries to 121 people.

* Data for the period 1 April 2010 to 20 January 2011 is preliminary and subject to change.

Types of crashes and works to improve safety

Run off road crashes.

Run off road crashes, which involve a vehicle leaving the road (to the right or left hand side), account for 43.5% of all crashes on Picton Road.

Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) is working to make the road environment more forgiving by improving sight distances and maximising roadside clear zones. Wider shoulders and roadside clear zones give drivers more time to correct the direction of their vehicle as 36.4% of all crashes involved the vehicle leaving the road and hitting an object. RMS is also improving curves to address crashes where drivers are losing control on curves.

Head on crashes

Head on crashes, not involving overtaking vehicles, account for 13.5% of all crashes.

RMS is installing approximately 14 kilometres of median barriers to better separate traffic and stop errant vehicles from crossing onto the wrong side of the road.

Speeding

Inappropriate speed was considered a contributing factor in 32.9% of all crashes.

RMS has constructed five enforcement pads and one enforcement bay to support the important work of the NSW Police Force such as checking speed and seat belt use and conducting random breath tests.

On Monday 1 November 2010 the speed limit on Picton Road between Mount Ousley Road and the Hume Highway Interchange was reduced from 100km/h to 90km/h for duration of the road work on Picton Road.

The speed limit will be reviewed after completion of the safety works.

Intersection improvements

RMS has upgraded the intersections with Almond Street, Cordeaux Dam Road, Mount Keira Road and Mount Ousley Road. 16.5% of all crashes occur within 10 metres of an intersection along Picton Road. These upgrades are designed to provide more protection to the cars turning into and out of the side streets and to improve visibility for all motorists in the area.

Traffic modelling for the Hume Highway interchange is underway to assist in determining the correct layout to address the crash history and future traffic volumes.