The WA Government has announced an $80 million road safety package – with a quarter of that to be spent on more than 100 new road safety cameras.
The spend will include:
- $20 million to expand the safety camera program including six new safety camera trailers, four pairs of fixed point to point cameras, 32 near miss cameras and 100 smiley face cameras with a focus on school zones;
- $27 million for additional road safety advertising, community education and public awareness campaigns;
- $25 million to continue the state government’s road safety upgrade programs, including the Regional Road Safety Program and the Safer Roads and Bridges Program;
- $5 million to increase capabilities for infringement processing, targeting high harm, high frequency offenders; and
- $2.5 million to support a review of penalties and flexible infringement polices that will identify how good drivers can be rewarded including caution notices for those who try to do the right thing, and tougher penalties for bad drivers.
Dangerous drivers who consistently disobey the law are set to face more fines and demerit points with the additional safety cameras on the roads.
Road Safety Minister Reece Whitby commented, “We want to change the behaviour of bad drivers with tougher penalties while also recognising drivers with a good history to make Western Australian roads safer.
“We know that most drivers do the right thing, which is why we’re undertaking review of penalties.
“The research is clear; safety cameras are an effective way of changing behaviour and lowering risk on our roads.
“Drivers who try to do the right thing should not be treated the same as dangerous drivers and high frequency, repeat offenders.”
Following the behaviour change demonstrated from the recent introduction of high-tech safety cameras, the WA Government has committed to a significant expansion of camera technology including six new safety camera trailers which can detect mobile phone and seatbelt misuse around the state.
Four new pairs of fixed point-to-point average speed zone cameras will be located on major roads and highways between metropolitan and regional areas with Indian Ocean Drive and Great Eastern Highway being investigated as potential locations for the new cameras.
The Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure will also receive funding for more staff to support the expected increased volume of infringements.
The community will see a significant boost to education, road safety advertising and awareness campaigns, and more partnerships with community organisations aimed at improving safety at a grassroots level.
All revenue derived from the new safety cameras will go into the Road Trauma Trust Account to be spent on road safety initiatives.
According to the WA Government, over the past 10 years, over $1 billion has been invested from the account, into making WA roads safer.
Transport Minister Rita Saffioti added, “We’re investing a further $25 million into key road safety upgrade programs, building on the more than one billion dollars invested through the Regional Road Safety Program for roadworks including resurfacing, widening and installing audible edge lines.
“Road improvements play 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 WA roads.”