RAC has welcomed the State Government’s call for a funding partnership with the Federal Government to deliver a long-term road safety program for regional WA.
The nine-year funding program would deliver around $100 million each year to upgrade more than 17,000 kilometres of WA’s regional road network, and provides the opportunity to save lives and stop serious injuries occurring in communities which continually feel the devastating impact of road trauma.
It comes as a report released today by the Australian Automobile Association, of which RAC is a member, revealed Western Australia has the highest road fatality rate of any State in the country and is on track to record one of the worst road tolls of the past decade.
RAC General Manager Corporate Affairs Will Golsby said funding support from the State and Federal governments was urgently needed to help reduce fatalities and serious injuries on regional roads.
“We welcome this positive step from the State Government, which has acknowledged the real opportunity we all have to tackle the unacceptable rate of road trauma in WA, which is currently the highest of any Australian State,” Mr Golsby said.
“Regional WA’s road fatality rate is six times higher than metropolitan Perth, with more than 60 per cent of road fatalities occurring on regional roads last year, despite only 20 per cent of the population living in regional communities.
“Many crashes which result in death or serious injury could be avoided through low-cost safety treatments such as sealing shoulders and installing audible edge lines.
“The WA Government has outlined this program will deliver more than 17,000 kilometres worth of regional road improvements, which would help prevent thousands of deaths and serious injuries.”
Regional road safety has been a key priority for RAC and was most recently highlighted leading into the 2019 Federal election campaign and the 2019/20 State Budget. RAC’s road safety initiatives including the Elephant in the Wheatbelt campaign and government submissions have also continually highlighted the impact of road trauma.
“We’ve consistently called for increased funding to fix our regional roads and address the unacceptable level of road trauma occurring every day in WA and we’re pleased the WA Government is taking a proactive stance on this issue,” Mr Golsby said.
“We now have the opportunity for the State and Federal Government to work together, including delivering the right approach on how this program will be supported, the levels of funding allocated to it, and when it will commence.
“Our regional communities need certainty and RAC looks forward to engaging with the State and Federal Governments, as well as supporting regional local governments across WA, to ensure the rollout of this critical program commences as soon as possible.”
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RAC Media Contact: Caitlin Barr, 0401 703 719 or media@rac.com.au
