Road Safety Commission reveals downward trend in Pilbara road fatality average

Despite a downward trend in the five-year average of road fatalities in the Pilbara, the voice for road safety in WA says each death is still one too many and has called for a change in driver behaviour. Preliminary figures from the Road Safety Commission show five fatalities in the region last year, up from the previous year’s total of four, but showed a downwards trend in the five-year average of seven between 2016 and 2020. Acting road safety commissioner Sarah Mewett said there was no acceptable number. “Every person killed or seriously injured on our roads is one person too many,” she said. “A large percentage of the people killed or seriously injured in crashes in the Pilbara over the past five years has been where a single vehicle ran off the road or rolled over. “Whether the cause of that was speed, fatigue or a simple mistake, it had fatal consequences.” In the past two years, road safety treatments including the sealing of road shoulders and installation of audible edge lines have been applied to nearly 200km of road throughout the Pilbara. Ms Mewett said those treatments were combined with effective enforcement and awareness campaigns. “But there is no single thing that will prevent road crashes,” she said. “We need to change driver behaviour.” Road Safety Minister Paul Papalia said any death on the State’s roads was a tragedy. “We’ve boosted enforcement on regional roads and are investing heavily in regional road safety upgrades,” he said. More than 7000km of regional road is set to be upgraded by July, with $455 million being invested in road safety treatments. RAC external relations general manager Will Golsby said West Australians had become complacent about road trauma and many regional communities continually felt the devastation of fatalities and serious injuries. “It’s critical we don’t lose sight of the risks we face behind the wheel, so we urge everyone to slow down, do not speed, ditch the distractions like the mobile phone, take regular breaks and be patient with one another,” he said. “Road fatalities and serious injuries are tragic, devastating and preventable ... let’s all do our part to keep each other safe on the roads in 2022.”