DASH CAM: Couple lucky to be alive
A COUPLE who were involved in a high speed head-on collision on the Pacific Highway have urged motorists not to text while driving and rest when you feel tired.
The couple were travelling northbound at Tyndale on Saturday, 17th December, 2016 when a white sedan crossed onto the wrong side of the road in front of their car. There was no time to react; their fate was already sealed. The fact they walked away alive was a miracle.
The footage was released back to the couple from police, who used it as part of their investigations into the crash.
The couple then shared it with Dash Cam Owners Australia to help remind motorists of the dangers on the road.
"Still in shock from our near miss the week before Xmas," the husband said.
"All parties involved walked away, including my wife and I. I can certainly vouch for the safety standard of the Subaru WRX, may have been a different story otherwise.
"Other driver was charged but the Police would not elaborate. I can only assume either texting or a microsleep was to blame. Someone was certainly watching over us that day."
The couple urged people who viewed the video to share it and remind family and friends of how important it is to stay alert on the roads.
"Never play with your phone and rest when you start to feel tired. You just never know what's around the corner."
The Daily Examiner has extensively documented Tyndale's history as a notorious black spot in the Clarence Valley:
- DEATH VALLEY: Tyndale's tragic highway history
- SHOCKING TOLL: Clarence Valley's horror year on the roads
- 7 HIGHWAY HOTSPOTS that continue to frustrate motorists
- Lasting impact: Emergency services caught up in road toll
Tyndale is part of a continuous stretch of mostly undivided road between Grafton and Maclean following the southern bank of the Clarence River.
Fatigue is a well-known contributor to serious crashes along this stretch of one of Australia's busiest highways.
Work began on the construction of dual carriageway in the area (Glenugie to Tyndale, and Tyndale to Maclean) in 2016 as part of the Woolgoolga to Ballina Pacific Highway Upgrade - the third and final major stage of the Hexham to Queensland border project which began in 1996. It is anticipated the new highway will open in 2019.
