RAC has encouraged the WA Government to use the upcoming Budget to target reducing risk on roads across our state.
Last year, 175 people lost their lives on Western Australian roads – the worst outcome since 2016, making it a crucial time to fund and deliver key road safety initiatives.
RAC Acting Group Executive Social and Community Impact Will Golsby said initiatives like the Regional Road Safety Program need to be prioritised.
“Two thirds of the lives lost on our roads in 2022 were in regional areas,” Mr Golsby said.
“Previous state budgets have promised funding for the Regional Road Safety Program, and now our communities need certainty on when the life-saving program will be fully funded and rolled out.”
“RAC is also calling for an additional $600 million to improve the safety of high-speed sealed local government roads.”
“We’re also calling for further investments to improve the safety of intersections across Perth, including more funding for the Low Cost Urban Road Safety Program.”
Mr Golsby said surplus funds sitting in the Road Trauma Trust Account should be put to immediate use.
“The closing balance of the Road Trauma Trust Account was $53 million in the mid-year review, raising questions about the plans for these funds, which need to be allocated to life-saving road safety projects,” Mr Golsby said.
Mr Golsby said the WA Budget also needs to find ways of easing the rising cost of transport.
“RAC is again calling for a freeze on registration and public transport fees, a relatively simple action that could make a major difference to many households across our state,” Mr Golsby said.
RAC State Budget Submission 2023-24 (PDF 824KB)
ENDS
Media contact: Laura Gardiner, 0401 703 719 or media@rac.com.au
