In the lead up to the Federal Election, RAC is calling on candidates to commit funding for WA’s Regional Road Safety and Metropolitan Intersections Programs.
RAC General Manager External Relations Will Golsby said federal investment in regional roads and metropolitan intersections was urgently needed to address WA’s unacceptable level of road trauma.
“Last year WA had its worst road fatality rate for five years and tragically someone is killed or seriously injured on our roads every five hours,” Mr Golsby said.
“RAC’s highest priority is the Regional Road Safety Program. Fully funded it would upgrade 17,000kms of the State’s regional road network with low-cost treatments like sealed shoulders and rumble strips.
“These upgrades would prevent more than 2,100 major crashes in regional communities, save thousands of people from death and serious injury, and create hundreds of jobs.”
The Regional Road Safety Program is a WA Government initiative with an estimated project cost of $900 million. To date, $669 million has been jointly committed by the State and Federal Governments.
“We have strongly welcomed funding commitments to date, but Western Australians now require certainty the full program will be funded, prioritised, and delivered within the next four years.”
“With road trauma estimated to cost the WA economy as much as $2 billion a year, there is a clear economic rationale for this life-saving program, however despite the obvious benefits, there remains a $231 million federal and state funding gap that needs to be jointly filled.”
The release of RAC’s federal election priorities coincides with the launch of the Australian Automobile Association’s Green Light Australia’s Recovery campaign, which seeks investment in transport projects that stimulate the economy, create jobs, save lives, and prioritise Australia’s transport network.
Nationally the AAA’s plan will create more than half a million jobs, add $290 billion in economic activity and contribute more than $130 billion to the nation’s gross domestic product.
RAC’s priorities for the next Federal Government include funding for:
- The WA Regional Road Safety Program to save thousands of lives and serious injuries.
- A metropolitan intersections program to deliver highly effective, low cost, life and serious injury-saving treatments.
- A program of safe and connected active transport infrastructure and enhanced streets and places for cycling and walking.
- Policies and initiatives to encourage adoption of electric vehicles in Western Australia to support cleaner and healthier air.
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Media contact: Rhys Heron, 0401 703 719 or media@rac.com.au
