Australian roadsides are littered with eye-catching sights ranging from rusted car sculptures to over-sized concrete bananas, but can these attractions prove to be a dangerous distraction?
Of course, it comes down to basic commonsense and driver awareness … and to location!
While most ‘official’ attractions are strategically placed, or at least parking bays are provided, the more impromptu sights are not always as focussed on the safety aspect.
A case in point is the rather grisly display of fox carcasses on a fence on a notorious bend on the Great Ocean Road. The Warrnambool Standard reports that some tourists are stopping in the middle of the road to take photos, putting other motorists’ lives at risk. It says some drivers have been forced to cross double lines going onto the opposite side of the road to avoid hitting the stationary cars.
The dead foxes are hung on a private property fence and stretch for about 30 metres, near the Rowans and Bartons road intersection.
Nullawarre resident Colin Collet told the Standard he recently saw a car parked in the middle of the sharp sweeping 90 degree bend.
“It’s the second time I’ve seen a car stopped in the middle of the road,” he said. “There’s not even enough room to park a car on the side of the road so you have to go onto the opposite side going around the corner.”
Warrnambool resident Ellen Troitzsch said she had approached authorities to remove the foxes but said nothing had been done.
“We thought ‘what a dangerous thing to do’ and on our way back from Port Campbell we saw people parked there,” Mrs Troitzsch said.
Nullawarre store staff member Scott McDowall told the Standard the foxes had been there for a long time.
“To be honest I don’t know who’s putting them there,” he said. “It’s not a pleasant sight when you go around the corner … there has been a few share farmers in there over the years.”
Port Campbell police Senior Constable Liam Cook said it was extremely dangerous, urging motorists to take care and be vigilant.
The Great Ocean Road has long been an accident hotspot. In recent years, there have been a number of incidents involving overseas tourists driving in the wrong side of the road.
Commonsense please.
There is a farmer near Licola in Victoria who hangs the bodies of feral dogs on his fence. Shows the general public how big they are, how many there are and it apparently also deters the dogs. The general public think these introduced feral pests are cute and fluffy but the devastate wildlife and some just kill for sport. Should be more of it.
Are we running out of subjects to talk about just keep your hands on your steering wheel and concentrate on the road and if you need to pull off the road always make sure you have room to and it’s safe
The display of dead feral dogs and foxes on fence lines is to deter other feral dogs and foxes and it works. It is a common sight down the road from where I live and no-one has had an accident or reported the display as offensive. This is normal practice in rural areas.
This has been going on for decades. What stupid comment by obviously city bound people.