Regional and rural WA road network safety improvements
Between 2008 and 2017, 61% of fatalities and 35% of serious injuries on the road network in Western Australia (WA) occurred in regional and rural areas.
Single vehicle, loss-of-control, run-off-road crashes constitute around a third of all serious casualty crashes on the WA road network. Infrastructure can play an important role in mitigating the consequences of these crashes. The relatively low cost measures of sealed road shoulders, wide centre lines and audible edge lines have been shown to substantially reduce the chance of these crash types.
The WA Government’s Towards Zero Road Safety Strategy 2008–2020 targets a 40% reduction in road crash outcomes by 2020, which has the potential to save 11,000 people from being killed or seriously injured.
This proposal complements the national Early-Stage Proposal for Regional road network safety improvements. It involves treatments such as sealing
shoulders, wide centre lines and audio tactile line marking to attain a safer road cross section on the State’s Highway and Main Roads regional and rural road network.
The Regional Road Safety Program is being implemented to upgrade up to 7,000 kilometres of roads.
Proponent to identify and analyse potential investment options (Stage 2 of Infrastructure Australia’s Assessment Framework).
Refer to Infrastructure Glossary for terms and definitions.