RAC is welcoming further funding from the State and Federal governments to deliver life-saving upgrades to thousands of kilometres of WA’s regional road network.
The 2020-21 Mid-Year Review reveals another $355 million will be invested in a Regional Road Safety Program in WA over the next two years, in addition to $100 million in funding announced earlier this year.
RAC General Manager Corporate Affairs Will Golsby said it’s positive to see significant funding allocated to address the unacceptable level of road trauma in regional WA.
“We welcome the announcement of further funding from the State and Federal governments to continue rolling out critical, life-saving upgrades to thousands of kilometres of WA’s regional roads,” Mr Golsby said.
“The additional funding announced today will see more of the State’s regional road network treated with safety upgrades to help reduce run-off road crashes — this will go a long way to addressing the unacceptable number of deaths and serious injuries that occur every day in regional WA.
“We’re very pleased with today’s announcement however we will continue to call on the State and Federal governments to commit to funding the $900 million Program in its entirety and ensuring it is delivered, in full, within the next four years.”
Fully funded, the $900 million Regional Road Safety Program would deliver life-saving upgrades to more than 17,000kms of WA’s regional roads, preventing more than 2,000 deaths and serious injuries and reducing regional road trauma by up to 60 per cent.
The Program is also expected to create more than 500 direct and indirect jobs annually and help reduce the economic burden of road trauma in WA – estimated to be $2.4 billion a year.
“We encourage both governments to continue discussions on this life-saving, job-creating stimulus package to ensure it is fully funded and rolled out as a matter of urgency,” Mr Golsby said.
So far this year, 150 people have lost their lives on WA’s roads — 60 per cent of those in regional areas. Thousands more have been seriously injured.
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RAC Media Contact: Caitlin Barr, 0401 703 719 or media@rac.com.au
