By Arthur Gorrie
What happens to drivers when they take their 4wd onto the beach at holiday time, as thousands are doing over the Coooloola Coast, K’gari and Great Sandy regions during the ongoing Easter school break?
And what goes on in their minds?
These are the questions Levi Anderson is seeking to answer, as he his research team take to our own beach holiday central, the Cooloola Coast from Noosa North Shore to Inskip Point, and beyond, to K’gari.
Mr Anderson is chief investigator on a new study being conducted by the Gympie-linked University of the Sunshine Coast and the Motor Accident Insurance Commission’s Road Safety Research group.
“In our previous research, we learned that peer influence and the belief they would not be caught by police were key motivating factors for drivers engaging in risky behaviour on the beach,” Mr Anderson said.
“This time we’re digging deeper to understand why so many people offend on the beach but not on the road.”
The Road Safety Research Collaboration is seeking participants who have driven on the Noosa Northshore, Teewah, Rainbow, or Double Island beaches in the past five years, to take part in a survey about their experiences there.
Mr Anderson says understanding how people think about driving on these beaches, is crucial to preventing future tragedies.
“Serious crashes and injuries are becoming more prevalent on beaches, Mr Anderson said.
“People need to remember the road rules, drive to the conditions, stick to speed limits and be vigilant; because the beach’s surface changes daily,” he said.
