A road safety expert is calling for an overhaul of Australia's heavy vehicle sector after a fatal bus rollover in north Queensland this week, saying the country is 'decades' behind in bus safety standards. The crash on Thursday killed a 26-year-old Argentinian tourist and injured more than 10 others on the Bruce Highway at Gumlu, between Bowen and Townsville.
Retired traffic engineer John Gaffney, who has more than 40 years of experience, visited the deadly stretch after a previous fatal bus crash in 2024 that killed three women. He said sections of the highway were 'undersized' and 'accelerate driver fatigue', describing the current design as a 'recipe for disaster'. He pointed to narrow lanes, a very narrow bridge, and insufficient shoulders as key issues.
Mr Gaffney said Australia lags behind European countries and Japan in implementing fatigue-monitoring requirements, driver monitoring, and updated seatbelt and window designs for rollover protection. He also criticised driving hours regulations, noting that breaks are measured in 15-minute increments compared to 45-minute breaks elsewhere.
The heavy vehicle regulator has joined police in investigating the crash. Police confirmed the bus, operated by FlixBus, was involved in a separate incident in February when it left the road and struck a fence south of Mackay; the driver was issued a traffic infringement notice. The 70-year-old Mackay bus driver from Thursday's crash is assisting police with their ongoing investigation.
Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor Ry Collins joined calls to urgently upgrade the Bruce Highway, which he described as being in a 'very concerning' condition. Police continue to speak with passengers and witnesses and are reviewing dash cam footage of the incident.
