•RTTA funding boost to upgrade metro intersections and regional roads
•New concept cars for every police district in WA
•WA to become the first jurisdiction in the world to trial new concept motorbikes
•Drug testing of drivers to increase by 125 per cent
•One million motorists to be breath tested annually
•More than 64,000 hours of additional enforcement on WA roads
THE State Government has today unveiled an $87.7million funding package to implement significant road safety measures across Western Australia.
Road Safety Minister Rob Johnson said the Government had carefully considered recommendations from the Road Safety Council to develop the package, which focused on metropolitan and regional road upgrades, drink and drug driving and police enforcement.
Mr Johnson said this was the first year the Road Trauma Trust Account (RTTA) had been boosted to such a record high level, thanks to the Liberal-National Government’s decision to transfer two-thirds of all speed camera revenue to the fund in 2011-12, increasing to 100 per cent from July 1 this year.
“We now have the potential to save many more lives and prevent hundreds of people from critical injuries thanks to this funding boost,” he said.
“A key aim will be to make our roads safer with upgrades to metropolitan intersections and roadside safety improvements to regional roads in line with our 12-year Towards Zero road safety strategy.
“There will be a significant expansion of police enforcement activities, particularly with the allocation of two concept cars to each of the 14 police districts across metropolitan and regional WA. These cars are the most advanced police vehicles of their kind in the world and have attracted the interest of international policing units such as the Los Angeles Police Department.
“WA will become the first jurisdiction in the world to trial two new concept motorbikes, which will enable police to identify speeding motorists, stolen vehicles, unlicensed drivers and persons of interest.
“We will also be providing 20 extra police officers and funding for additional policing hours to significantly expand breath testing operations to assist police in reaching a target of one million tests in 2012-13.
“In total, there will be a massive increase of 64,000 hours of additional traffic enforcement across the State in 2012-13, which will go a long way in saving lives and reducing serious injuries on WA roads.”
Funding highlights in the 2012-13 RTTA budget include:
•$21.6million for safety upgrades to metropolitan intersections
•$20.1million for regional and remote road and roadside safety improvements
•$11.4million to reduce impaired driving including 48 new concept cars; two concept motorbikes; expanded breath and drug testing; 20 additional drug testing machines; and 20 additional officers to conduct testing, equating to an additional 36,800 hours of enforcement. Community education to reduce drink and drug driving
•$17.9million to reduce speeding, including 27,500 hours of additional traffic enforcement; additional school crossing zone lights; and community education
•$3.4million on improving vehicle safety; crash testing; and a study of motorcycle crashes and roadside crash barriers
•$11.6million on community initiatives such as establishing a road trauma support service, neurotrauma research, local government programs (Roadwise), school education (Road Aware).
Fact File
•WA and Queensland are the only States to place 100 per cent of speed camera revenue into a dedicated road safety account
