RAC calls for radical action following latest Coalfields Highway death
05 November 2010
The RAC has called on the State government to immediately reduce the speed limit on a horror stretch of the Coalfields Highway as an interim road safety measure following another fatal accident.
Six people have been killed on the Coalfields Highway in the past six months, with five of those deaths occurring on a stretch between the South-West Highway and the turnoff to the Worsley refinery.
Late yesterday a 43-year-old cyclist became the latest victim when he was reportedly struck from behind by a vehicle.
RAC Head of Member Advocacy Matt Brown said an immediate cut of 20km/h to the speed limit along this stretch of road is the only viable interim solution.
“This stretch of road carries a large volume of traffic, including heavy vehicles, travelling to and from the various resource projects in the area,” Mr Brown said.
“The highway runs east-west meaning there are significant issues with glare as a large number of workers head to work in the morning and again when they return home.
“Five deaths on this stretch in six months is a clear signal that there is a serious road safety issue which needs to be fixed.
“It is vital that speed limits are reduced as an interim measure to make this stretch of road safer while we figure out a solution.
“The government has announced funding for the upgrading the highway but the works do not target this section of the road.
“The reduction in speed limit would add around five minutes to the trip for workers. It’s a minor inconvenience compared to the tragedy being experienced as a result of the road deaths.
The State Government’s “Towards Zero” Road Safety Strategy states that:
“On the balance of available evidence, speed limit reductions, applied where infrastructure improvements are not feasible in a reasonable timeframe, would make a substantial contribution to reducing road trauma in Western Australia.”
Mr Brown said a high-profile police presence would be required to initially educate motorists about the changed speed limits and ultimately enforce it if the message didn’t get through.
“The reduction in speed limits needs to be backed up with additional funding for police to launch an elevated campaign against speeding on the highway,” he said.
“Successive governments have placed ‘efficiency cuts’ onto the WA Police while assuring the public it wouldn’t affect front-line services.
“It is not acceptable to have private companies sponsoring front-line police services to try to keep people safe on our roads.
“There is a serious problem here. If the police require additional resources to do something about it then the government should provide them.”
Download the release (pdf)