Flexible safety-wire barrier on the Midland Highway has been credited for saving lives by the state's peak road safety authority after dash-cam footage circulating on social media showed a near head-on crash.
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The footage posted on Dash Cam Owners Australia shows a white Triton ute crashing into the flexible wire barrier and moving at speed uncontrollably up the wire barrier for about 150 metres.
Infrastructure minister Michael Ferguson said more than 250 repairs were undertaken between 2018 and 2020 to flexible safety barrier posts on the Midland Highway.
"Most, if not all, of the damage was caused by a vehicle hitting the barrier, with each hit a potential life saver," he said.
"The installation of flexible safety barriers in Tasmania has now extended to approximately 272 kilometres of Tasmania's state road network."
"Many Tasmanians would have seen dashcam footage of a vehicle hitting a safety barrier on the Midland highway earlier this week and it shows quite dramatically, the value of that barrier in preventing what would otherwise have been a head on crash which could have resulted in death or serious injury," Mr Bailey said.
"Without that safety barrier there would likely have been a head on, and we know how serious they are that speed."
Tasmania Police reported that the 28-year-old driver of the white ute was driving on a disqualified licence, and was taken into custody.
A statement said the male driver reported tyre failure as the reason for losing control of his vehicle.
"As a result, approximately 150 metres of wire barrier was damaged, and debris was thrown into the path of four vehicles that were travelling in a southerly direction," a statement said.
"There were no injuries and minor damage was caused to the four vehicles ... whilst it is undetermined if fatigue or inattention has played a role in this crash, it is a timely reminder to all drivers to take care on our roads, pay attention, don't drive whilst fatigued."
Mr Ferguson said flexible safety barriers are a key component in getting Tasmania a 3-star AusRap rating as part of the Midland Highway Action Plan.
"A total of 103 kilometres of (flexible wire) this upgrade has now been completed, with barriers installed on all except the sections with lower speed limits. Barriers will also be installed as part of the final 50 kilometres of the Action Plan program, work on which will start this construction season.
"A total of 89 kilometres on the Bass Highway have the barriers installed."
He said up to 100 kilometres will be installed as part of planned upgrades on the Bass Highway between Launceston and Devonport."
