WA is expected to record the highest roadside fatalities in a decade. 2024 has already surpassed last year’s 110 road fatalities by 22. Experts say it is representative of an increase in road safety laws being ignored.
Young West Australians 20-29 continue to lead road accident statistics representing a challenge to road safety experts on how to reach this demographic.
According to the Mobile safety camera trial, one repeat offender caught breaking road safety laws would have lost 80 demerit points if enforced.
“It has never been more important to remember the responsibility we all have when we get behind the wheel.”
RAC General Manager External Relations Will Golsby
This month, the Labor Cook government announced a further $32.5 million boost to road safety initiatives for the next four years. In tangent with this, the Road Safety Commission opened a new grant scheme targeted at young drivers.
A previous year’s community grant went to Surfing WA’s ‘No Txt No Wrecks’ aimed at getting the community to their chosen surf spot safely. Another notable grant was awarded to the Shire of Nannup’s Living with Emus Project which saw the community install a 3m tall emu sculpture weighting approximately 650kg.
Applications for the grant close Oct 4.
A new road safety campaign launched earlier this week ‘Speeding shatters your excuses’ focuses on reducing speed-related risks. Statistics reveal speeding as the leading factor in causing accidents on WA roads.
“Speeding Shatters Your Excuses is a hard-hitting campaign, which I believe will make people think again before they make the dangerous choice to drive too fast.”
Road Safety Minister David Michael
Despite all the 2024 Road Safety Commission campaigns the statistics still show road accidents on the rise.
More concerning is young West Australians are still the most likely demographic to be involved in a fatal or serious injury roadside accident. West Australian Centre for Road Safety Research Senior Research Fellow Matt Albrecht says this is because young West Australians’ thinking around risk assessment is still underdeveloped.
Unlike older West Australians who have more experience and a better understanding of risks, young people lack this appreciation.
The most effective strategy Dr Albrecht suggests is to normalise avoiding risk-taking behaviour. A good example he says, is the stamping out of drunk driving. Although it still occurs today, 50 years ago drunk driving was an ordinary occurrence and not taken as seriously as it is today. He also observes a similar normalisation around seatbelt safety.
University student Olivia is an example of a young West Australian who didn’t take road safety seriously until she had an accident. She says people she knows still don’t take the issue seriously and more needs to be done to encourage road safety in young people.