Spotlight on WA's riskiest roads with survey results now in

  • More than 18,000 nominations received state-wide for the RAC Risky Road Survey – the highest number on record

  • Riskiest metro intersection is Baldivis Road and Kulija Road intersection in Baldivis and Mitchell Freeway in West Perth is the riskiest metro road

  • Riskiest regional intersection is Albany Highway and South Coast Highway intersection in Albany and riskiest regional road is Great Northern Highway from Pithara to Wubin and Newman to Port Hedland

Results are in for the RAC Risky Roads survey with over 18,000 nominations received to pinpoint dangerous hot spots across Western Australia’s road network.

The survey asked Western Australians which roads and intersections they thought were the most dangerous, with survey results used to advocate for improvements.

Over 50 per cent of respondents said they had been involved in or witnessed a crash or near-miss on their nominated road.

The Baldivis Road and Kulija Road intersection in Baldivis took top spot as Perth’s riskiest intersection, jumping from sixth place in 2022.

Melville’s dog leg intersection at Canning Highway, Rome and Hislop roads was second – appearing in the top 10 for the first time.

Nominators thought both intersections provided little chance to turn or cross traffic and had a confusing layout, with many suggesting a roundabout could relieve problems.

A stretch of Mitchell Freeway in West Perth topped the list as the riskiest metro road – inching up to first place from second spot in 2022 – with little chance to turn or cross traffic, a confusing layout and no overtaking opportunities considered major drawbacks.

Topping the list of risky regional intersections for the third time running was the Albany Highway and South Coast Highway intersection at the Chester Pass roundabout in Albany.

In second spot was the intersection of Nancarrow Way and Pinjarra Road in Ravenswood.

Both intersections were nominated for their confusing layouts with little chance to turn or cross traffic.

The top riskiest regional road was Great Northern Highway from Pithara to Wubin and Newman to Port Hedland - nominated due to issues including poor road surface quality, no overtaking opportunities, and narrow lanes.

Comments attributed to RAC General Manager External Relations Will Golsby “RAC’s Risky Roads Survey is the largest survey of its kind and this year we received the highest number of nominations on record from thousands of Western Australians.

“With over 50 per cent of nominators having been involved in or witnessed a serious crash or a near-miss at a risky road or intersection, there’s clearly urgent work that needs to be done.

“We look forward to working with governments and road safety authorities to improve key problem areas and reduce the number of deaths on WA roads, which increased by19 per cent last year.

“Thank you to everyone who made a nomination – your efforts contribute to improving our road network and keeping road safety as the most important priority.”

ENDSMedia contact: Haylee Ruwaard 0401 703 719 or media@rac.com.au (journalists only)

Top 10 metro results

METRO INTERSECTIONSUBURB
1. Baldivis Road & Kulija RoadBaldivis
2. Canning Highway, Rome Road & Hislop RoadMelville
3. Armadale Road & Eighth RoadArmadale
4. Anstey Road & Mandurah Road Secret Harbour
5. Garden Street & Nicholson Road Canning Vale/Thornlie
6. Great Eastern Highway & Scott StreetGreenmount
7. Clayton Street & Military Road Bellevue/Midland
8. Lewis Road & Welshpool Road Wattle Grove
9. Marmion Avenue & Seacrest DriveSorrento
10. Karrinyup Road & Muir StreetInnaloo
METRO ROADSECTION
1. Mitchell FreewayWest Perth
2. Archer Street Carlisle
3. Guildford Road Mt Lawley to Bayswater
4. Kwinana Freeway Como
5. Mason Road Kwinana Beach
6. Hampton RoadBeaconsfield
7. Rowley Road Banjup to Hilbert
8. Farrington Road North Lake to Murdoch
9. Neaves Road Banksia Grove to Bullsbrook
10. Hopeland Road Hopeland to Nambeelup

TOP 10 REGIONAL RESULTS

REGIONAL INTERSECTIONSUBURB
1. Albany Highway & South Coast Highway (Chester Pass Roundabout)Lockyer/Orana/Mt Melville (Albany)
2. Nancarrow Way & Pinjarra RoadRavenswood
3. Bussell Highway & Tuart Drive Yalyalup
4. South Coast Highway & Strickland StreetDenmark
5. Bussell Highway & Memorial Drive Cowaramup
6. Bussell Highway & West StreetBusselton
7. Forrest Highway & Lake Clifton Road Waroona
8. Caves Road & Wallcliffe Road Margaret River
9. Bussell Highway & Vasse HighwayBovell/Yalyalup
10. Dodson Road & South Western HighwayGlen Iris
REGIONAL ROADSECTION
1. Great Northern HighwayPithara to WubinNewman to Port Hedland
2. Great Eastern HighwayThe Lakes to Coolgardie
3. South Western HighwayBoyanup to Walpole
4. Bussell HighwayCowaramup
5. Indian Ocean DriveYanchep to Arrowsmith
6. Albany HighwayArmadale to Albany
7. South Coast HighwayAlbany to Esperance
8. Denmark - Mount Barker Road Denmark Mt Barker
9a) Caves Road9b) Great Southern HighwayBusselton - YallingupThe Lakes to Brookton
10. Geraldton- Mt Magnet RoadGeraldton to Mullewa