The third Capt Cook Highway accident in just under 2 weeks occurred at the weekend when a car was rear ended turning right into the Mobil Servo.

The major Port Douglas 'black spot' is actually a little further up the road at the Tee Junction near the IGA and Wildlife Habitat turnoff but the effects of the speed that people travel along the Highway through that junction are more far reaching.  At the moment the speed limit is 70K but it is not a respected speed limit.  The speed limit when coming from Mossman quickly reduces from 100K to 80K before further being reduced sharply to 70K just before the junction. 

From the Cairns direction, the speed limit reduces a little more sedately from 100kph to 80K to 70K through Craiglie but whether it is studiously observed is another matter 'cos it's a lovely stretch of straight road.

Perhaps the speed limit needs to be further reduced to 60kph through to and from Craiglie in a similar fashion to the narrow Ellis Beach roadway, where of course they did have a fatality some years ago which focused the attention on vehicle speed.  Before we experience a similar death. 

Isn't it better to deal with the matter now having learnt from some recent near misses as well as the history of other similar locations.

Or is the solution a roundabout?  Is a roundabout really out of the question?  It certainly slows things down on the outer approaches to Cairns through the myriad of roundabouts that they have had to endure. 

Just while we're discussing these problems, dare we raise the subject of traffic lights similar to the Clifton Beach junction near the shopping village.  Traffic having to stop would certainly reduce the acceleration speed through Craiglie where there are often cars situated in the centre of the highway turning right into the Servo.

There must be a solution to the mystifying reasons why this junction has become infamous for traffic accidents. And there is nothing gained by pointing the finger of blame at individual drivers.  It happens too regularly for it to be lack of attention by all these drivers.  Of course that may play a part but it isn't the complete answer.  

Please vote for one of our suggestions in our poll over.  We'd like to collate the results and pass them down to the traffic department in Cairns for some immediate consideration. 

We really do not want a death at this rogue junction if it can at all be avoided with a little speed governing or other constructive solution.

And please don't be shy in making any other suggestions in the 'other' column that we may have overlooked.

Also please feel free to post any constructive comments below.  This is a serious matter and needs all our attention.