A motorist who witnessed the crash which last week claimed the life of a grey nomad has revealed that a mobile phone blackspot meant it took her 15 minutes to reach emergency services.
Karen Purss says she wants immediate action to fix mobile phone coverage along Victoria’s Murray Valley Highway. She says the stretch of road near Berringama where the accident – between a Ute towing a caravan and an overtaking truck – occurred is treacherous. She believes it is inevitable there will be further accidents there, and is calling for more mobile phone towers to be installed at regular intervals along the length of the road.
Both the 73-year-old male driver of the ute and his 69-year-old female passenger were trapped in their vehicle for more than two hours before being cut free. The man later died in hospital.
Police say the truck was overtaking the ute when the caravan struck the semi-trailer and forced the ute in front of the truck. Both vehicles then careered down an embankment on the side of the road, causing the truck to drive over the car and caravan.
In an opinion piece, the local newspaper, the Border Mail , said no one would want to think that anyone involved in a motor vehicle accident would not have the best opportunity for timely access to the best medical care.
“It is hard to determine whether the difficulties Mrs Purss had in contacting emergency services had some part in the man’s death but obviously it is cause for concern,” the newspaper said.
When you take into account the amount we pay for mobile service in Australia there should be full service along all major and secondary roads Australia wide.
yes I totally agree with your thoughts indeed
Get real people. Next you will be wanting ambulances stationed every 500 metres along all major roads, or perhaps the same level of emergency response over all of Australia as exists in the major cities.
Australia has one of the highest Telco charges for mobile phones and internet services in the developed world, but probably the poorest coverage.
Until the ACCC decides to stick a big stick up these companies, this will continue. Many metro areas in State cities have no service in whole suburbs.