A 24-kilometre stretch of Sydney's M4 - the site of 788 crashes causing serious injuries and six deaths from 2010 to 2014 - is Australia's most treacherous highway.
The busy stretch on the M4 Western Highway from Parramatta Road to the spaghetti bowl intersection with the M7 was the most dangerous highway in NSW and Australia, according to a report that analysed Australian highways.
More National News Videos
- Video duration
- 02:07
'I died at the scene'
'I died at the scene'
Micaela Henderson suffered severe brain damage and other injuries after an horrific car crash six years ago. Video courtesy: Transport Accident Commission.
Up Next
'Dream come true': Refugees celebrate first Australian Christmas
- Video duration
- 01:30
- Video duration
- 01:30
'Dream come true': Refugees celebrate ...
'Dream come true': Refugees celebrate first Australian Christmas
Akram Khaieo and his extended Syrian Assyrian family are gearing up to celebrate the first Australian Christmas since they arrived in September.
Up Next
Melbourne terror plot: a close call
- Video duration
- 02:46
- Video duration
- 02:46
Melbourne terror plot: a close call
Melbourne terror plot: a close call
Police have arrested seven people in relation to an alleged terror plot on Christmas Day, following raids across Melbourne. Vision courtesy Seven News, Melbourne.
Up Next
Blood donations made Bryson an 'energizer bunny'
- Video duration
- 02:02
- Video duration
- 02:02
Blood donations made Bryson an 'energizer ...
Blood donations made Bryson an 'energizer bunny'
Tamara Miles has Australia's blood donors to thank after her three-year-old son Bryson beat a cancerous brain tumour with the help of a dozen blood transfusions.
Up Next
Melbourne terror plot: leaders respond
- Video duration
- 02:34
- Video duration
- 02:34
Melbourne terror plot: leaders respond
Melbourne terror plot: leaders respond
Victoria's Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton, Premier Daniel Andrews and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull respond to terror raids that took place early Friday morning.
Up Next
Is your phone secure?
- Video duration
- 02:01
- Video duration
- 02:01
Is your phone secure?
Is your phone secure?
In the age of phishing and hacking, here are three steps to help you become a cybersecurity expert.
Up Next
Politics 2016: the journos' picks
- Video duration
- 05:30
- Video duration
- 05:30
Politics 2016: the journos' picks
Politics 2016: the journos' picks
Fairfax's press gallery journalists reflect on the stories that have intrigued them during 2016.
Up Next
Rod Culleton still a senator - for now
- Video duration
- 00:48
- Video duration
- 00:48
Rod Culleton still a senator - for now
Rod Culleton still a senator - for now
A finding of bankruptcy against the former One Nation Senator has been stayed for 21-days. Courtesy ABC News 24.
'I died at the scene'
Micaela Henderson suffered severe brain damage and other injuries after an horrific car crash six years ago. Video courtesy: Transport Accident Commission.
The second worst spot in NSW, and the third in Australia, is the 45- kilometre long stretch of the Hume Highway that runs from the M5 South Western Highway to Narellan Road, Campbelltown.
The results come from a review of nearly 21,000 kilometres of Australian highways by the Australian Road Assessment Program (AusRAP) for the Australian Automobile Association.
Related Content
It analysed highways by looking at the number of crashes that caused serious injuries, a more accurate indication of their real danger than looking at fatalities alone.
NRMA spokesman Peter Khoury said the report highlighted how much work was still needed to bring Australia's National Highway Network up to an acceptable, safe standard.
"In a year that has seen a horrific increase in the road toll, it is perhaps fitting that this report was released in time for Christmas," Mr Khoury said.
The 10 worst spots in NSW with a risk rating of high included:
1. Western Highway, M4, from Parramatta Road, Concord, to the M7 Westlink, where 788 were badly injured and six people died. It is used by 95,050 vehicles every day.
2. Hume Highway, from South Western Motorway/M5 to Narellan Road, Campbelltown, where 726 were seriously injured and seven died; 40,000 vehicles use this stretch of road every day.
3. Western Motorway, M7 Westlink to Glenbrook, where 235 people were seriously injured and four died.
4. Pacific Motorway, Ballina, to Byron Bay, where 92 were injured and 12 died.
5. Pacific Motorway, Hawkesbury River to Calga Interchange, where 146 were injured, and three died.
6. Great Western Highway, Wellington, to Newell Highway, Dubbo, where 31 were injured and three died
7. Pacific Motorway, Byron Bay, to Yelgun, where 40 were injured and five died.
8. Pacific Highway, Wahroonga, to Brooklyn on the Hawkesbury, where 125 were injured and one died.
9. Federal Highway, Hume Highway to Collector outside Canberra, where 48 were injured and 5 died.
10. Great Western Highway, Orange to Wellington, where 58 were injured and one died.
The report found that, as well as injuries causing distress to families and friends and causing loss of employment, the lifetime health costs average $136,000. A severe injury causing quadriplegia can cost $2.6 million.
Mr Khoury said motorists in NSW could take heart because most of the top 10 worst highways in NSW had upgrades under way, which would save lives and improve safety.
These include the Pacific Highway, Western Motorway and Great Western Highway.
The best road in NSW was the Sturt Highway, from Wagga Wagga to Narrandera.
The report coincides with growing concern about the sharp rise in the national road toll, with 1273 Australians killed on our roads in the year to September: an annual increase of 86.
More than 2500 Australians are seriously injured on the road every month.
As well as two highways in NSW, which came in first and third on the national list, Tasmania's Bass Highway from Nine Mile Road to Stowport Road came in second.
Fourth place for the worst highway went to Queensland's M1 Pacific Highway from Gateway Motorway to Logan Motorway.
Fifth in the national list of worst highways was Tasmania's A8 East Tamar Highway from Alanvale Connector to Dalrymple Road. Sixth was another spot on Queensland's M1 Pacific Motorway from Smith Street Freeway to NSW border, seventh was again Tasmania's M1 Midland Highway from Evandale Main Road to Howick Street, eight was QLD's M1 Pacific Highway from Logan Motorway to Smith Street Freeway, nine was the Bruce Highway from Sarina to Mackay while number 10 was WA's M1Great Northern / Victoria Highway from the Kununnurra turnoff to the Northern Territory border.
Australian Automobile Association chief executive Michael Bradley said governments were rightly focused on how to address the worsening road toll.
"This report highlights the areas of highway most in need of further investment in order to save lives," he said.
"Australia's motoring clubs are calling on all governments to make targeted, effective investments in road safety, and we urge them to use our statistically based analysis to help make those investments."
The clubs are urging the public to lobby the government to do more to improve safety.
Members of the public can click on a section of a highway near them, and send a link to rally their local member.
The report examined the 247 sections making up 20,664 kilometres of highway under the National Land Transport Network. It ranked highway sections based on risk, determined from the length of road section, traffic volume and the number of crashes causing casualties.
The Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Darren Chester, said the government was committed to improving roads in New South Wales and was investing $2.9 billion towards the Western Sydney Infrastructure Plan and $5.6 billion towards the Pacific Highway.
"Every death and serious injury is one too many and we need to work together to improve road safety, " he said. "This is not an issue that governments or police can solve in isolation, we need the community on board. The best Christmas present you can give your family and friends is to get home safely."