Safe roads

Road Assessment Program

The Australian Road Assessment Program (AusRAP) will help the WA State Government ensure that eventually all sections of national highway in Western Australia which score poorly are prioritised for improvements and upgrades. The risk ratings will also provide road planners and engineers with vital benchmarking information to show them how well, or badly, a particular road performs compared with others.

• AusRAP analyses the crash history and the amount of traffic on each section of the national highway network. The relevant roads are then ranked according to the level of safety they offer and their risk to road users.
• AusRAP will help ensure that the sections of national highway in WA which score poorly are prioritised for improvements and upgrades.
• AusRAP has developed two standard protocols for risk mapping of casualty crashes and a star rating system for roads, using a Road Protection Score (RPS). Using these protocols, roads are rated for safety.
• The AusLink National Network is more than 20,000km in length.
  • It generally represents the National Highway System and some of the roads previously classified as Roads of National Importance, additional strategic links, and a number of metropolitan roads that link to major freight terminals.
• AusRAP gives roads across Australia a safety rating, which in turn ensures that the risk of death and injury on different roads more meaningful, stimulates public discussion - and action.
• AusRAP will help road users understand how risk can vary according to changes in the road environment. Risk-aware road users will be more likely to adapt their driving to reduce their risk of a crash.
• The risk ratings will also provide road planners and engineers with vital benchmarking information to show them how well, or badly, a particular road performs compared with others.
• The National Road Safety Strategy 2001-2010 (the National Strategy) shows that nearly half of the targeted improvement in road trauma can be achieved by upgrading Australia's roads.

• Installation of barriers to separate oncoming traffic.
• Widening and sealing shoulders (or road edges).
• Installing audible edge lines.
• Removing roadside hazards such as trees and poles.
• Providing overtaking lanes.
• Providing line markings.
• Installing advisory speed signs.
• Resurfacing roads.

Primary school students

• Every year about 70 per cent of all injuries or deaths involving children between 5 and 14 years are related to using the road ' mostly as a passenger, pedestrian or cyclist.
• Young children have short attention spans. They are easily distracted. They tend to think about one thing while other things are happening around them.
• Children don't assess traffic correctly as they are unable to judge the speed and distance of cars.
• Young children have a very limited concept of danger and the word 'stop'.
• Children are unable to deal with sudden changes in traffic.
• Young children may have reduced ability to notice objects such as cars in their side vision.
• Because of their size, children have difficulty seeing over parked cars. This also means they can't be seen.
• Children and adults must be appropriately restrained to ensure their safety while travelling in motor vehicles. Use of seat belts is one of the most effective road safety measures.

Pedestrians

• Children up to age 10 or 11 should be accompanied by an adult when crossing the road.
• The correct road crossing procedure is STOP, LOOK, LISTEN and THINK:
  • STOP one step back from the kerb or shoulder of the road if there is no footpath.
  • LOOK in all directions for approaching traffic.
  • LISTEN in all directions for approaching traffic.
  • THINK about whether it is safe to cross the road ' when the road is clear or all traffic has stopped.
• When crossing, walk straight across the road. Keep LOOKING and LISTENING for traffic while crossing.

Cyclists

• If you are under 12 years of age you can legally ride on footpaths in Western Australia. The Road Safety Council has recommended that people of all ages be able to also ride on the footpath.
• The footpath or a bicycle path is generally much safer than riding on the road, but watch out for cars coming out of driveways and where footpaths and bicycle paths intersect with roads.
• Children often make mistakes when cycling. Wearing of helmets will give the best protection if cyclists are involved in a crash with a motor vehicle. Research indicates that helmets were not worn in about one half of cases when children are killed or hospitalised from cycling crashes.

Black spots

Some road traffic sites have a history of many road traffic crashes. Other sites or sections of roads may be identified from Road Safety Audits to have a high likelihood of crashes because of their design, construction or maintenance. Various measures or road treatments can be undertaken to reduce the chance of road crashes at Black Spot sites. Treatments include:

• Roundabouts.
• Traffic control signals.
• Traffic island on approaches to intersections.
• Seagull islands at intersections.
• Indented right turn pockets (lanes) with islands.
• Left turn slip lane.
• Medians added to existing roads.
• Nibs (pedestrian 'refuge' facilities).
• Ban right turns.
• Non-skid treatments.
• Improve/reinforce priority signs.