Albany man calls for safer driving near roadworks after sister’s lucky escape in South Coast Highway crash

An Albany resident is urging drivers to take care when travelling through roadworks after a scary crash involving his sister, who skidded off an under-construction section of road, flipped her car and narrowly escaped injury. Jimmie Henny’s 19-year-old sister was driving home from Denmark along South Coast Highway on the afternoon of June 23 when she approached a gravel strip of road, spun out and rolled before hitting a tree. “Just past the tip, the roadworks start and it goes from 90km/h on a dead straight perfect road, then hits 80km/h then 60km/h, a tight corner, then a strip of loose gravel,” he said. When he went to recover his sister’s car the next day, Mr Henny said he witnessed almost all drivers speeding through the roadworks. “Pretty much everyone was doing 100km/h through it because they assume all the road’s already done because 90 per cent of it is,” he said. “Everyone was wobbling and it was actually pretty dangerous. “It’s also with signage, because you’ve got this patch of very loose gravel on a corner and the 60km/h sign is quite near it and I know it’s assuming people follow all the rules. I guess at the end of the day it is ultimately negligence on the drivers’ part.” Mr Henny said he has since called Main Roads to report the potential hazard and request bigger signage. His sister, who requested not to be named, had a very lucky escape from the incident, coming out completely unscathed despite the fact the airbags didn’t go off. Mr Henny urged people to take road works signs seriously, lest future drivers end up less fortunate than his sister. “You have people at home who love you, please pay attention to the road signs and do the speed limit,” he said. A Shire of Denmark spokesperson said driving safely through roadworks was essential for the safety of those on the road and off it. “Obeying roadworks signage is crucial for safety, not just for motorists, but also for the teams conducting essential repairs, maintenance and upgrades of road networks,” they said. A Main Roads WA spokesperson echoed the message, saying that sharing the road required “patience and courtesy” from drivers. “It’s important that you follow all roadwork signage, even if you can’t see anyone working on the road,” they said. Main Roads WA also highlighted the importance of obeying roadwork signage for the safety of those working on the roads. “Road workers and traffic controllers work in high-traffic environments, which can present many potential hazards,” they said. “They may not have the protection of concrete barriers and truck mounted crash attenuates, leaving them in a very vulnerable position. “It is the responsibility of all motorists to ensure they do their part in protecting these workers while they are out improving the road network. “Please remember to be roadwork aware, slow down and take care.”