Published on:
Friday, 24 January 2025
Key Points
WALGA commends today's announcement that if re-elected, a Cook Labor Government will invest $125m to expand the Regional Road Safety Program onto Local Government roads and $17.7m to deliver 23 new signalised pedestrian crossings.
The additional investment will see safety treatments including widening, sealed shoulders plus audible centre and edge lines installed on Local Government roads for the first time.
These safety treatments are aimed at preventing one of the leading causes of death and serious injury on regional roads – single-vehicle run-off road crashes.
WALGA President Karen Chappel AM JP welcomed today's announcement.
“Today's commitment to further invest in regional road safety could achieve major progress towards the 2030 National Road Safety Strategy targets to reduce fatalities by 50% and serious injuries by 30%.
“Between 2018 and 2022, more than 500 people lost their lives and over 2,900 were seriously injured on regional roads in WA. Half of these crashes happened on Local Government roads.
"Funding is critical to ensure local roads are safe for all who use them.
"The Cook Labor Government announcement stated that if re-elected a matching contribution will be sought from the Australian Government. This is in line with WALGA's advocacy calling on both the State and Australian Government to co-fund the investment required to save lives and reduce injuries on Local Government roads."
Today's announcement also included a $17.7m commitment to deliver 23 new signalised pedestrian crossings, which will include the replacement of 19 current warden-controlled school crossings around Western Australia.
President Chappel continued, "Manned children’s crossings are designed to provide a safe location for children to cross roads on their way to school. However, high traffic speed and volumes can create unsafe conditions for both children and Traffic Wardens,"
"Converting to signalled crossings will allow the redeployment of Traffic Wardens to less dangerous or unmanned crossings."
WALGA's 2025 State Election Priorities calls for $276m over four years to fund the State's contribution to applying road safety countermeasures on 439 Local Government roads, and the conversion of children's crossings on 30 identified multi-lane, high-speed, high volume roads to signalled pedestrian crossings.
President Chappel concluded, "We all have an important part to play in changing the current road safety outcomes and making sure every person arrives at their destination safely.”
To arrange an interview with WALGA, please contact WALGA Acting Manager Media and Communications Taysha Sullivan on 0448 896 435 or via [email protected]
- A re-elected Cook Labor Government will commit $125m to expand the Regional Road Safety Program onto Local Government roads and $17.7m to deliver 23 new signalised pedestrian crossings.
- WALGA's 2025 State Election Priorities calls for $276m over four years to fund the State's contribution to applying road safety countermeasures on 439 Local Government roads, totalling 8,208km.
- WALGA has also advocated for the conversion of children's crossings on 30 identified multi-lane, high-speed, high volume roads to signalled pedestrian crossings to improve safety for children and Traffic Wardens.
WALGA commends today's announcement that if re-elected, a Cook Labor Government will invest $125m to expand the Regional Road Safety Program onto Local Government roads and $17.7m to deliver 23 new signalised pedestrian crossings.
The additional investment will see safety treatments including widening, sealed shoulders plus audible centre and edge lines installed on Local Government roads for the first time.
These safety treatments are aimed at preventing one of the leading causes of death and serious injury on regional roads – single-vehicle run-off road crashes.
WALGA President Karen Chappel AM JP welcomed today's announcement.
“Today's commitment to further invest in regional road safety could achieve major progress towards the 2030 National Road Safety Strategy targets to reduce fatalities by 50% and serious injuries by 30%.
“Between 2018 and 2022, more than 500 people lost their lives and over 2,900 were seriously injured on regional roads in WA. Half of these crashes happened on Local Government roads.
"Funding is critical to ensure local roads are safe for all who use them.
"The Cook Labor Government announcement stated that if re-elected a matching contribution will be sought from the Australian Government. This is in line with WALGA's advocacy calling on both the State and Australian Government to co-fund the investment required to save lives and reduce injuries on Local Government roads."
Today's announcement also included a $17.7m commitment to deliver 23 new signalised pedestrian crossings, which will include the replacement of 19 current warden-controlled school crossings around Western Australia.
President Chappel continued, "Manned children’s crossings are designed to provide a safe location for children to cross roads on their way to school. However, high traffic speed and volumes can create unsafe conditions for both children and Traffic Wardens,"
"Converting to signalled crossings will allow the redeployment of Traffic Wardens to less dangerous or unmanned crossings."
WALGA's 2025 State Election Priorities calls for $276m over four years to fund the State's contribution to applying road safety countermeasures on 439 Local Government roads, and the conversion of children's crossings on 30 identified multi-lane, high-speed, high volume roads to signalled pedestrian crossings.
President Chappel concluded, "We all have an important part to play in changing the current road safety outcomes and making sure every person arrives at their destination safely.”
To arrange an interview with WALGA, please contact WALGA Acting Manager Media and Communications Taysha Sullivan on 0448 896 435 or via [email protected]
