Route safety review

The Oxley Highway stretches 514 kilometres, starting on the mid north coast of NSW at Port Macquarie and extending west to connect with the inland centres of Tamworth, Gunnedah, Coonabarabran, Gilgandra and Warren.

Project information

Road safety review

The Centre for Road Safety (CRS) and Roads and Maritime Services carried out a route safety review of the Oxley Highway west of the Pacific Highway, between:

Pacific Highway and New England Highway
New England Highway and Newell Highway
Newell Highway and Mitchell Highway.

View or download the route safety review.

Review recommendations

The Oxley Highway Safety Review report contains a number of recommendations which focus on an integrated approach to improving road safety along the length of the highway. The recommendations involve implementing an enhanced road safety program which includes:

Providing greater protection from roadside hazards through the installation of appropriate safety barrier system
Adjusting existing barrier systems to enhance safety for motorcyclists
Relocating or removing some roadside hazards
Improving linemarking practices
Providing upgraded and consistent warning, advisory and directional highway signposting
Improving and widening road shoulders
Upgrading road junction treatments
Improving road alignment
Reviewing speed zones and their lengths
Reviewing school bus operations and upgrading facilities were appropriate
Enhancing road user behavioural campaigns, especially those targeting motorcyclists, speeding and fatigue
Providing or upgrading the facilities required to strengthen enforcement strategies
Maintaining and strengthening existing road safety partnerships
Review mobile phone coverage to facilitate improved post crash response times.

What was involved in the road safety review?

The Oxley Highway route safety review investigated:

Fatal and injury crashes
Road safety engineering issues
Current speed limits and speed zones
Driver behaviour issues such as speeding; drink driving; and driver fatigue
Heavy vehicle issues.

Research, community engagement and highway inspections have been used to inform a strategy aimed at reducing the number and severity of road crashes on the Oxley Highway.

Community feedback sessions were held in Warren, Tamworth, Gunnedah, Walcha and Wauchope in November 2013. To see some of the feedback and local knowledge provided by the community during the consultation period, view the online map (right).