WA Farmers should withdraw daylight saving advert

07 April 2009

The RAC has called for the immediate withdrawal of an anti-daylight saving advertisement being distributed by WAFarmers.

The advertisement claims there is “evidence” to link daylight saving to an increase in road accidents despite WAFarmers reportedly indicating it had no evidence to back the statement.

RAC Head of Member Advocacy Matt Brown said the poster was a low and cynical attempt to manipulate genuine community concern about the high number of road deaths on country roads.

“The RAC is not aware of any evidence from other States or countries which would support a conclusive link between daylight saving and increased road trauma,” Mr Brown said.

“More than 600 people have been killed on our roads over the past three years. That’s more than 600 families and thousands of friends who have lost a loved one to road trauma.

“They deserve better than to have their emotions and grief manipulated in a political campaign by a farm lobby group.

“Around 60 per cent of road deaths occur on country roads. Thousands more have been seriously injured in accidents across the State.

“If WAFarmers has any evidence at all to link road deaths and serious injuries to daylight saving it should release it. If it doesn’t, it should immediately withdraw this advertisement.

“Reducing the appalling human cost of road trauma should be a common community cause that is above politics.

“If WAFarmers really want to do something about tackling this problem it should join the calls for the government to fund the programs of the Towards Zero road safety strategy.

“It should also get behind our calls for the National Party to direct some of the funding from the Royalties for the Regions fund toward a Regional Roads Rescue program – a long term approach to lifting road safety standards in regional WA.”

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