Penalty changes target unsafe road behaviour

The State Government has approved a major overhaul of penalties within the Western Australian Road Traffic Code 2000.

A suite of penalty changes is set to come into force later this year, including amendments to fines and certain demerit point penalties for a range of traffic offences.

Road Safety Minister Liza Harvey said the changes would discourage unsafe driving behaviours, particularly those with the highest risk of causing crashes or injury.

“Despite significant improvements in road safety since 2008, it is an unfortunate fact that Western Australia has one of the worst road safety records in the country,” Mrs Harvey said.

“We need to do everything we can to discourage unsafe driving behaviour which is why penalties need to reflect how dangerous these driving offences are.

“The illegal use of mobile phones in vehicles continues to plague the community, with drivers seemingly unable to resist the urge to touch their phone while driving.

“Unfortunately illegally using a mobile phone today is as widespread as not wearing a seatbelt was in the 1970s.

“It took fines, enforcement and a change in the community’s attitude to wearing a seatbelt to finally change drivers’ behaviour – a change that has resulted in thousands of lives saved over the past 40 years.”

The Minister said thorough research had been undertaken to review the penalty structure of offences related to speeding and other traffic offences.

“A report compiled by the Centre for Automotive Safety Research was analysed by local subject matter experts in a working group appointed by the Road Safety Council,” she said.

“This report considered the appropriateness and consistency of offences relating to high-risk behaviours, as they continue to feature strongly in crash trauma statistics.”

A public awareness campaign including press, radio, digital and online media will be scheduled to promote these changes in the lead up to the Queen’s Birthday long weekend later this year.