MEDIA RELEASE
RAC is urging road users not to become complacent after a devastating start to 2018, with six people already killed on WA roads.
RAC General Manager Corporate Affairs, Will Golsby, said despite a reduction in the number of deaths on our roads in 2017, WA still had one of the nation’s worst fatality rates.
“Tragically, 158 people were killed on WA roads in 2017, with far more seriously injured," Mr Golsby said.
WA will record a fatality rate in 2017 of approximately 6 deaths per 100,000 people. Victoria is set to record a rate of around 4 deaths per 100,000 people — 33% lower than Western Australia1.
“WA continues to lag behind leading states like New South Wales and Victoria."
“If WA matched Victoria’s 2017 road fatality rate, more than 50 people would still be alive today.
“Fatalities in regional WA remain unacceptably high, with road-users being five times more likely to be killed on regional roads last year.
“Less than 20% of the State’s population reside in regional communities, yet in 2017 these areas experienced more than half of all road fatalities.
“Every life lost or serious injury on WA roads is one too many and each has a lasting ripple effect in the community.
“As a State, we need to see through the statistics and do everything we can to help bring WA’s road fatality and serious injury rate down.”
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Media contact: Rhys Heron 040 703 719 or media@rac.com.au
