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Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Sarah's dad collects signatures on safety

http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-national/sarahs-dad-collects-signatures-on-safety-20120417-1x4kz.html

SYDNEY, April 17 AAP - The father of a young woman fatally run down by a truck driver will present a petition calling for safer highway breakdown lanes in NSW.

Sarah Frazer, 23, died on February 15 after her car had broken down on the Hume Highway, south of Mittagong, in the state's Southern Highlands.

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Tow truck driver Geoff Clark, 40, was also killed after he had stopped to help.

Ms Frazer's father, Peter Frazer, said the breakdown lane where they died was narrow and dangerous, and is presenting a petition calling on state parliament to debate the need for breakdown lanes to be at least 2.5 metres wide.

The group Safer Australian Roads and Highways (SARAH) has collected 12,000 signatures during the past four weeks, more than the required 10,000 needed to spark a parliamentary debate.

"We started the petition last month to ensure that no other family loses loved ones in such preventable circumstances," Mr Frazer said in a statement.

"The section of road where my Sarah and Geoff Clark were killed is so dangerous that police closed off the lane so that our family could safely lay a wreath for her."

Mr Frazer said he had noticed other breakdown lanes were just as dangerous.

He wants the law changed so drivers would be required to slow down to half the posted speed limit and move to a lane away from a vehicle with the hazard lights on.

At Mr Clark's funeral, Mr Frazer met tow truck driver Danny Whittaker, who was angered by his mate's needless death.

Mr Whittaker wants the law to be amended so drivers are required to slow to 40km/h on freeways when passing emergency personnel in breakdown lanes.

"He called it the 'Highlander Law' in honour of Geoff Clark's company, Highlander Towing," Mr Frazer said.

The petition has the support of the Police Association of NSW, Fire Brigade Employees' Union (NSW), Motor Traders Association of NSW and the Emergency Medical Service Protection Association.

A truck driver was charged over the deaths in March.

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