Safety Risk .net

Humanising Safety and Embracing Real Risk

You are here: Home / Bernard Corden / Desperados waiting for a train

Desperados waiting for a train

by Leave a Comment

No one to follow and nothing to teach

Except that the goal falls short of the reach

Leonard Cohen – The Goal 1

imageAny research or discussions regarding transport disasters across Australia will inevitably recall the horrific but often forgotten bus crashes that occurred on the northern coast of News South Wales almost thirty years ago. The Grafton bus crash on the Pacific Highway near Cowper in the Clarence valley on 28th October 1989 claimed 21 people and left another 22 passengers injured. Almost two months later in the Macleay valley two Denning Landseer tourist coaches were involved in a head on collision at Clybucca, north of Kempsey. The coaches were both travelling at 100 kilometres per hour and the impact snapped many seats from their anchor bolts. It remains the worst road accident in Australia with the deaths of 35 people, which included both drivers and another 41 passengers were injured. 2–9

The Grafton crash occurred a few hours before dawn when a southbound semitrailer carrying a load of tinned fruit careered across the undivided highway into a northbound tourist bus carrying 45 passengers. Its driver’s side was ripped open like a can of peaches, which killed many of its sleeping occupants and their remains and belongings were strewn across the highway. The truck driver died instantly and subsequent blood analysis revealed an extremely high concentration of ephedrine. The use of stimulants to remain awake was prolific amongst truck drivers, especially on long haul journeys to meet unrealistic demands and delivery schedules. 10–14

The Kempsey crash occurred on 22nd December 1989 and the subsequent coronial inquiry found the driver of the southbound McCafferty’s coach fell asleep at the wheel. The vehicle was approaching a left hand curve on an undivided stretch of the Pacific Highway when it continued straight ahead and collided with a northbound TransCity Express bus. The McCafferty’s coach driver had not dimmed the vehicle’s headlights or applied its brakes. Neither of the buses exceeded the speed limited and both coaches were mechanically sound. 15–17

The coroner recommended upgrading the Pacific Highway to dual carriageway between Hexham and the Queensland border although an estimated completion date of 2006 was never achieved. Almost three decades later the Frederickton to Eungai dual carriageway, which bypassed Clybucca was officially opened. Other initiatives have included establishment of the National Transport Commission with a responsibility for developing, monitoring and maintaining nationally consistent regulatory and operational reforms covering road, rail and intermodal transport. This is supported by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator, a statutory authority pursuant to the Heavy Vehicle National Law. 18–24

More recent research, especially into the Grafton bus smash at Cowper indicates the SunLiner Express coach was unroadworthy. It left Kempsey some two hours earlier with several defects, which included a broken driver’s side headlight and fractured lens cover with malfunctioning night and clearance lights. Deteriorating road conditions with potholes and crumbling shoulders may have caused the southbound truck driver to straddle the white centre line to avoid wear and tear from excessive vibration and jolting of the vehicle. 25–28

From a distance, the oncoming northbound bus with its defective lights may have been mistaken for a motorcycle and the truck driver suddenly realised it was a tourist coach. This was evident following examination of the prime mover that was subject to a hard left lock on impact, which is consistent with a truck driver’s impulsive reaction to avoid an approaching vehicle. Almost a year later a SunLiner bus driver recorded a high range blood alcohol reading on the outskirts of Port Macquarie with 49 passengers aboard the coach. 29–31

Several anomalies suggest both bus crashes were not solely attributable to human error, which is more often a consequence than the elusive cause. Indeed, a former associate engineering professor called for the state coroner to reopen the inquest. Extensive critical analysis of the coroner’s report, which was delivered within one month of the disasters, implies that blatant political interference produced a predetermined outcome. Following a Booz Allen Hamilton report, north coast rail services were considered commercially unviable and brutally slashed. This was exacerbated by widespread redundancies throughout country rail operations to recoup a burgeoning $1 billion annual debt. It left a much maligned goat track as the only transport link between north coast towns and the consequences soon emerged via the Cowper and Clybucca disasters with the horrific deaths of 56 people. 32–40

All this occurred under state premier, Nick (I don’t remember) Groaner, another crepuscular and fiscally conservative neoliberal acolyte. Some two years before the appalling bus smashes his partner, the daughter of a Commonwealth Bank executive, was acquitted of a mid-range drink driving charge. It followed a lunchtime o’booze at a business function, which left the Kirribilli princess feeling rather tired and emotional. The coronial report into Australia’s worst road disasters predictably blamed the drivers although it is curiously unavailable on the state coroner’s website and a book containing a summary of the investigation is now out of print. Indeed, official investigations into both of the crashes remain as enigmatic as the White River Timber tax records, which surreptitiously went up in smoke following a frantic Judᴂan-Hungarian stocktake. 41–53

References

  1. Cohen L. Leonard Cohen – The Goal [Internet]. SongMeanings. [cited 14 December 2019]. Available from: https://songmeanings.com/songs/view/3530822107859596626/
  2. Clark G. Guy Clark – Desperados Waiting for A Train [Internet]. YouTube. 2008 [cited 14 December 2019]. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFb1lGMvS3I
  3. Grafton bus crash [Internet]. Wikipedia. [cited 28 August 2019]. Available from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grafton_bus_crash
  4. Google Maps – Cowper [Internet]. Google Maps. [cited 28 August 2019]. Available from: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Cowper+Cl,+Grafton+NSW+2460/@-29.6710866,152.804082,11z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x6b9bdbeb294c8241:0xdfb9ffa91e481dfa!8m2!3d-29.6710667!4d152.9441601
  5. Clarence Valley – Home [Internet]. Clarence Valley. [cited 28 August 2019]. Available from: https://www.myclarencevalley.com/
  6. Macleay Valley Coast – Home [Internet]. Macleay Valley Coast. [cited 28 August 2019]. Available from: http://macleayvalleycoast.com.au/
  7. Denning Manufacturing [Internet]. Wikipedia. [cited 28 August 2019]. Available from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denning_Manufacturing
  8. CLYBUCCA: December 22, 1989 [Internet]. Port Macquarie News. 2009 [cited 28 August 2019]. Available from: https://www.portnews.com.au/story/1013560/clybucca-december-22-1989/
  9. Kempsey bus crash [Internet]. Wikipedia. [cited 28 August 2019]. Available from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kempsey_bus_crash
  10. Cowper Bus Crash [Internet]. Monument Australia. [cited 28 August 2019]. Available from: http://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/disaster/land_transport/display/20925-cowper-bus-crash
  11. Emergency Management Australia Cowper coach and semi-trailer collision [Internet]. The Wayback Machine EMA Disasters Database. [cited 28 August 2019]. Available from: https://web.archive.org/web/20071017212759/http:/www.ema.gov.au/ema/emadisasters.nsf/6a1bf6b4b60f6f05ca256d1200179a5b/ca9e3f69f7352146ca256d33000583df?OpenDocument
  12. Richards N. Fatigue and Beyond: Patterns of and motivations for illicit drug use among long haul truck drivers [Internet]. Eprints QUT. 2004 [cited 28 August 2019]. Available from: https://eprints.qut.edu.au/16018/1/Naomi_Richards_Thesis.pdf
  13. Haworth N. DRIVER FATIGUE AND STIMULANTS – Monash University Accident Research Centre [Internet]. Department of Infrastructure, Regional Development and Cities. 1989 [cited 28 August 2019]. Available from: https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roads/safety/publications/1989/pdf/mr_05.pdf
  14. Abbott D, Woodward A, Moller J, Arblaster D. The Health Risks of Long-distance Trucking – Final Report to the Federal Office of Road Safety [Internet]. Department of Infrastructure, Regional Development and Cities. 1992 [cited 28 August 2019]. Available from: https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roads/safety/publications/1992/pdf/risk_truck_2.pdf
  15. Clybucca Memorial Garden [Internet]. Monument Australia. [cited 28 August 2019]. Available from: http://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/disaster/land_transport/display/20794-clybucca-memorial-garden
  16. McCafferty’s Coaches [Internet]. Wikipedia. [cited 28 August 2019]. Available from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McCafferty%27s_Coaches
  17. Trans City Express Coaches. [Internet]. Bus Australia. [cited 28 August 2019]. Available from: https://www.busaustralia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=82752
  18. Hansen J. 25 years of painful memories of Grafton bus crash that destroyed a family [Internet]. The Daily Telegraph. 2014 [cited 28 August 2019]. Available from: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/25-years-of-painful-memories-of-grafton-bus-crash-that-destroyed-a-family/news-story/9fa9937cccf3e7aedb87a118d42e4420
  19. Pacific Highway Fatal Crashes 2009 – 2011 + 2012P* Hexham to Queensland Border [Internet]. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2013 [cited 28 August 2019]. Available from: https://www.abc.net.au/cm/lb/4494232/data/fatal-crashes-pacific-highway-hexham—queensland-border-data.pdf
  20. Large attendance at Pacific Highway briefing [Internet]. The Daily Examiner. 2014 [cited 28 August 2019]. Available from: https://www.dailyexaminer.com.au/news/large-attendance-at-pacific-highway-briefing/2347070/
  21. Merkell H. Deadly stretch of Pacific Highway to be bypassed today, 27 years after bus crash [Internet]. ABC News. 2016 [cited 28 August 2019]. Available from: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-05-16/deadly-stretch-of-pacific-highway-to-be-bypassed-today/7416854
  22. National Transport Commission [Internet]. Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development. [cited 28 August 2019]. Available from: https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/transport/australia/ntc/index.aspx
  23. About the NHVR [Internet]. National Heavy Vehicle Regulator. [cited 28 August 2019]. Available from: https://www.nhvr.gov.au/about-us/who-we-are/about-the-nhvr
  24. Heavy Vehicle National Law and Regulations [Internet]. NHVR. 2018 [cited 5 September 2019]. Available from: https://www.nhvr.gov.au/law-policies/heavy-vehicle-national-law-and-regulations
  25. NHVR Roadworthiness Program [Internet]. National Heavy Vehicle Regulator. [cited 28 August 2019]. Available from: https://www.nhvr.gov.au/safety-accreditation-compliance/vehicle-standards-and-modifications/roadworthiness-program
  26. Matthews K. Expert Urges Rethink; Professor Wants Inquest into Tragic Bus Crash Re-Opened [Internet]. Questia. [cited 29 August 2019]. Available from: https://www.questia.com/newspaper/1G1-305699427/expert-urges-rethink-professor-wants-inquest-into
  27. Garcia A, Byzyka J, Rahman M. Potholes: how engineers are working to fill in the gaps [Internet]. The Conversation. 2018 [cited 29 August 2019]. Available from: https://theconversation.com/potholes-how-engineers-are-working-to-fill-in-the-gaps-102055
  28. Matthews K. Expert Urges Rethink; Professor Wants Inquest into Tragic Bus Crash Re-Opened [Internet]. Press Reader. 2012 [cited 29 August 2019]. Available from: https://www.pressreader.com/search?query=Expert%20Urges%20Rethink%3B%20Professor%20Wants%20Inquest%20into%20Tragic%20Bus%20Crash%20Re-Opened&languages=en&groupBy=Language&hideSimilar=0&type=1&state=1
  29. Top 5 Mechanical Failures that Cause Car Accidents [Internet]. Lowman – Lawfirm. 2019 [cited 29 August 2019]. Available from: https://www.lowmanlawfirm.com/blog/bid/63142/top-5-mechanical-failures-that-cause-car-accidents
  30. Charged bus driver was Fix this text hero of accident last year [Internet]. Trove. 1990 [cited 29 August 2019]. Available from: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/122313959
  31. Drink and drug driving – Alcohol limits [Internet]. Queensland Government. [cited 29 August 2019]. Available from: https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/safety/road-safety/drink-driving/blood-alcohol
  32. Quinlan M. Report of Inquiry into Safety in the Long Haul Trucking Industry [Internet]. School of Industrial Relations and Organisational Behaviour University of New South Wales. 2001 [cited 29 August 2019]. Available from: http://wwwdocs.fce.unsw.edu.au/orgmanagement/QuinlanReportA.pdf
  33. Matthews K. Expert Urges Rethink; Professor Wants Inquest into Tragic Bus Crash Re-Opened [Internet]. Press Reader. 2012 [cited 29 August 2019]. Available from: https://www.pressreader.com/search?query=Expert%20Urges%20Rethink%3B%20Professor%20Wants%20Inquest%20into%20Tragic%20Bus%20Crash%20Re-Opened&languages=en&groupBy=Language&hideSimilar=0&type=1&state=1
  34. Matthews K. Expert Urges Rethink; Professor Wants Inquest into Tragic Bus Crash Re-Opened [Internet]. Press Reader. 2012 [cited 29 August 2019]. Available from: https://www.pressreader.com/search?query=Expert%20Urges%20Rethink%3B%20Professor%20Wants%20Inquest%20into%20Tragic%20Bus%20Crash%20Re-Opened&languages=en&groupBy=Language&hideSimilar=0&type=1&state=1
  35. Matthews K. Expert Urges Rethink; Professor Wants Inquest into Tragic Bus Crash Re-Opened [Internet]. Questia. 2012 [cited 29 August 2019]. Available from: https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-305699427/expert-urges-rethink-professor-wants-inquest-into
  36. Booz Allen Hamilton – Transportation [Internet]. Booz Allen Hamilton. [cited 29 August 2019]. Available from: https://www.boozallen.com/markets/transportation.html
  37. State Rail Authority [Internet]. Wikipedia. [cited 29 August 2019]. Available from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_Rail_Authority
  38. Fife-Yeomans J. The long road to saving lives: How the Pacific Highway upgrade has cut fatalities [Internet]. Perth Now. 2018 [cited 29 August 2019]. Available from: https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/nsw/the-long-road-to-saving-lives-how-the-pacific-highway-upgrade-has-cut-fatalities-ng-4a65f475fea785edb9cb9671592bf908
  39. Cowper Bus Crash [Internet]. Monument Australia. [cited 29 August 2019]. Available from: http://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/disaster/land_transport/display/20925-cowper-bus-crash
  40. Clybucca Memorial Garden [Internet]. Monument Australia. [cited 29 August 2019]. Available from: http://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/disaster/land_transport/display/20794-clybucca-memorial-garden
  41. Nick Greiner [Internet]. Wikipedia. [cited 29 August 2019]. Available from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Greiner

  42. Hancock I. The Greiner Years [Internet]. The Spectator. 2013 [cited 29 August 2019]. Available from: https://www.spectator.co.uk/2013/03/the-greiner-years/

  43. Wilkins G. Nick Greiner entangled in ‘deceptive’ deal [Internet]. The Sydney Morning Herald. 2013 [cited 29 August 2019]. Available from: https://www.smh.com.au/business/nick-greiner-entangled-in-deceptive-deal-20130326-2grul.html

  44. Glanville B. Bob Carr and Nick Greiner biggest offenders as past premiers’ perks jump to more than $1m [Internet]. ABC News. 2018 [cited 29 August 2019]. Available from: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-07/perks-for-former-premiers-including-bob-carr-nick-greiner/9842636

  45. Kathryn Greiner [Internet]. Wikipedia. [cited 29 August 2019]. Available from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathryn_Greiner

  46. Bede Callaghan [Internet]. Wikipedia. [cited 29 August 2019]. Available from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bede_Callaghan

  47. Drink-driver Knowles steered straight into a ban [Internet]. The Sydney Morning Herald. 2005 [cited 29 August 2019]. Available from: https://www.smh.com.au/national/drink-driver-knowles-steered-straight-into-a-ban-20050422-gdl6dv.html

  48. Coren G. No one’s going to call me Lunchtime O’Booze [Internet]. The Times. 2019 [cited 29 August 2019]. Available from: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/no-ones-going-to-call-me-lunchtime-obooze-3q05cd0lrkn

  49. Welcome to Loreto [Internet]. Loretto Kirribilli. [cited 29 August 2019]. Available from: http://www.loreto.nsw.edu.au/

  50. Ting I, Palmer A, Liu R. This is every road death since 1989 [Internet]. ABC News. 2019 [cited 29 August 2019]. Available from: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-25/every-road-death-in-australia-since-1989/9353794

  51. Coronial findings – Major findings pre-2012 [Internet]. NSW Coroners Court. 2012 [cited 29 August 2019]. Available from: http://www.coroners.justice.nsw.gov.au/Pages/findings.aspx#Majorfindingspre-2012

  52. Waller K. Suddenly Dead – Ten famous cases through the eyes of the coroner [Internet]. ISBNS.FM. 1994 [cited 29 August 2019]. Available from: https://www.isbns.fm/isbn/9780330272582/

53. Former NSW Premier Nick Greiner on the politics of business [Internet]. Switzer Daily. 2009 [cited 29 August 2019]. Available from: http://www.switzer.com.au/business-news/news-stories/former-nsw-premier-nick-greiner-on-the-politics-of-business/

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.