THE Bruce Highway has been named and shamed as one of the world's 22 most dangerous highways.
The state's main arterial appears alongside some of the most notorious roads on the planet, such as Pakistan's terrifying Nanga Parbat Pass and the infamous "Death Road" in Bolivia.
The Bruce - Australia's only highway to make the list - got an "overall road fear factor" of 4 out of 10.
The RACQ says the notoriety could drive away both interstate and international visitors and discourage locals from taking their holidays along the coast.
UK-based Driving Experience used a range of reports to compile its list of deadly stretches - which includes Bolivia's "Death Road", the North Yungas, as well as the risky Trans Siberian Highway, also known as "the ice road".
The 1700km Bruce Highway represents less than 8 per cent of Australia's national highways, but it accounts for almost a fifth of the country's road toll.
Frequent flooding cuts off communities and supplies, with the road shut for more than 48 hours at nine different spots each year.
The RACQ predicted that up to 400 people would die over the next decade if action was not taken.
The motoring body and State Government have previously said an $11 billion investment would be needed to bring it up to an acceptable standard.
"It's the worst road in the country, this confirms it," RACQ executive manager public policy Michael Roth said.
"This shows that the Prime Minister and his deputy need to have the Bruce Highway right up the very top of their infrastructure agenda, because it's in more need of improvement than any other highway in the country."
Mr Roth said the highway's appearance on the UK list, which is quickly being shared across social media, could pose a serious problem for the tourism industry.
"It is concerning that tourists will see that and some will be a bit more hesitant to do a drive tourism experience," he said. "It may convince a few southerners not to head north."
Following a campaign in The Courier-Mail and Sunday Mail last year, the Coalition promised to spend $6.7 billion on upgrading and fixing the highway.
The Newman Government says fixing the Bruce Highway is an urgent priority, with lives depending on it being brought up to standard.
"We agree that after years of neglect by the former Labor government more needed to be done to bring the Bruce Highway up to a satisfactory standard," a spokeswoman for State Transport Minister Scott Emerson said.
Source:
Queensland's Bruce Highway ranked in top 25 of world's most dangerous roads |
