Member for Geraldton Kirrilee Warr MLA has called for the better outcomes for road safety in Geraldton, saying a multi-faceted approach is needed to achieve results.
This week marked one year since the Labor Government’s Road Safety Round Table, but statistics since then show a lack of improvement for road safety with more Western Australians having lost their lives on the roads than at the same time last year.
Ms Warr said more needs to be done within the electorate to ensure local results.
“If we’re serious about reducing the road toll, we have to change behaviours,” she said.
“One life lost on our roads is one too many, and we need to put measures in place to ensure dangers are mitigated as much as possible.
“We need practical, life-saving steps, including greater investment in rural road infrastructure, regular road safety audits, and targeted policies to address fatigue.”
Between 2020 and 2024, more than 500 lives have been lost and 2500 were seriously injured on country roads.
One such measure to tackle road safety has been the inclusion of police road safety trailers in Geraldton, which uses cameras to track drivers using their phones, while also checking for seatbelt usage and speeding.
Ms Warr said methods like this helped improve road safety, and urged for the trial to become permanent.
“The trailers help deter dangerous driving which is an important step in reducing the road toll,” she said.
“But we need more permanent solutions, and ensuring these trailers can become a permanent part of the electorate would go a long way.”
Ms Warr called for the activation of the Road Trauma Trust Account (RTTA) to be utilised to fund road safety through perceptive means, such as the AI trailers.
She said the most important part was continued investment not only into roads, but also to other aspects.
“The RTTA has millions of dollars which could be utilised towards education to better enforce the message of safe driving,” she said.
“It will be important to continue to spread the message of safe driving, and education campaigns in this space will be paramount.
“I will continue to advocate for investment to some of the electorate’s most dangerous roads, such as Geraldton-Mt Magnet Road.”
Other shortfalls in funding for the region which could be funded through the account included the highway patrol and booze buses.
Ms Warr echoed the comments of Shadow Minister for Road Safety Julie Freeman, saying a community approach will be needed to tackle this issue.