- $20 million safety treatments on key local government roads
- $8.6 million for two new breath and drug testing buses in regional areas
- $2.1 million for increased police traffic enforcement in regional areas plus high-visibility police car livery
- $1.8 million for improved traffic data gathering
The Cook Government will spend an additional $32.5 million over the next four years to boost safety on regional roads across Western Australia.
The funding allocation, through the Road Trauma Trust Account (RTTA), involves a range of initiatives covering improved road infrastructure, enforcement and data gathering.
It follows a roundtable of road safety experts and advocates convened by Premier Roger Cook this week to examine new and innovative ways to improve safety on WA roads after the State this year registered its worst year-to-date road toll since 2016.
The funding includes an additional $20 million towards the WA Labor Government's landmark Regional Road Safety Program (RRSP).
The additional funding from the RTTA takes the total allocation towards the RRSP over the next four years to $241.5 million, and boosts the total amount invested or allocated to the program since 2020 to more than $1 billion.
The additional $20 million investment will be used by the Cook Government to expand the RRSP to local government roads, with the focus of the program to date being on the State road network.
The RRSP was launched in 2020 to specifically target single vehicle run-off road crashes.
To date more than 9,000 kilometres of the State's regional road network has been upgraded with safety treatments such as shoulder widening and sealing, and the installation of audible edge and centre lines. By the middle of next year, it is expected 10,000 kilometres will have had safety treatments installed.
Another $8.6 million has been allocated for two new breath and drug testing buses, plus operating expenses, for deployment in country WA.
Police visibility in regional areas will be boosted with $2.1 million for increased police traffic enforcement plus high-visibility police car livery.
Traffic data gathering to provide intelligence on potential road safety treatments and the deployment of safety cameras will be improved with a $1.8 million allocation.
The initiatives have been designed to target regional areas of WA, which have recorded a sharp spike in road deaths in the year-to-date.
Comments attributed to Premier Roger Cook:
"We cannot be complacent when it comes to road safety.
"As part of my Government's immediate response to our recent Road Safety Roundtable, we are committing an additional $32.5 million in funding to initiatives designed to help keep more Western Australians safe on our roads.
"We will continue to roll out the latest technology and ideas to improve road safety across WA, and I encourage all drivers to do their bit by driving to the conditions, slowing down, putting on a seatbelt, not driving drunk or tired, and avoiding distractions."
Comments attributed to Road Safety Minister David Michael:
"While the Cook Government continues to review and consider ideas generated by the recent Road Safety Roundtable, these represent more immediate measures that we can implement to improve safety on regional roads.
"I am pleased that funds from the Road Trauma Trust Account, which pools the fines from speed and red-light camera infringements, can be used in such an effective and targeted way."
Comments attributed to Transport Minister Rita Saffioti:
"This additional funding will help us to deliver the landmark Regional Road Safety Program to even more parts of the State, including on local government roads for the first time.
"The Regional Road Safety Program is the largest road safety initiative we've ever undertaken and is playing a critical role in reducing the number of single-vehicle run-off-road crashes, one of the leading causes of death and serious injury on regional Western Australian roads.
"Since we established the Regional Road Safety Program in 2020, we've upgraded more than 9,000 kilometres of the State's regional road network, with 10,000 kilometres expected to be completed by the middle of next year.
"Since 2020, we have invested nearly $1.3 billion towards targeted road safety programs around the State, while we continue to make record investments on upgrading and delivering new road infrastructure that will make our network safer and more efficient."
Comments attributed to Police Minister Paul Papalia:
"This funding will see more police patrolling regional roads and it will ensure those officers have greater visual presence.
"The two new breath and drug testing buses will give police additional capacity to test motorists for drink and drug affected driving outside of the metropolitan area, further boosting safety throughout Western Australia."
