RAC launches Risky Roads 2008
The RAC has joined forces with thewest.com.au for the 2008 Risky Roads program to ask its members and the wider motoring public to nominate safety flashpoints on their local roads.
The aim of the Risky Roads campaign is to tap into motorists’ knowledge of the roads they use every day and provide the government with feedback to ensure that motorists’ concerns are addressed and Western Australia’s roads become safer.
The current campaign will build on Risky Roads 2006 that identified parts of the South West, Great Northern and Brand Highways as well as Toodyay Road as the riskiest country roads in the State.
Problems in Perth were most reported for the intersection of Armadale Road and Tapper Road and also along Gnangara Road and Reid Highway.
The RAC said that in the past 2 years improvements have been made by Main Roads and local councils to some of the 2006 Risky Road locations but more needed to be done to make our roads safer.
These nominations were supported by a recent study conducted by the RAC that found that there were nearly 1000km of sub standard highway in WA.
The RAC’s Executive Manager – Member Advocacy David Moir said that creating a safer road network in Western Australia was a priority for the organisation.
“A National Road Safety Strategy estimates that between 10 and 20 per cent of all road deaths could be avoided if roads and road environments are made safer,” he said.
“This means each year as many as 40 lives could be saved and countless serious injuries prevented on WA roads.
“That’s why we’re asking our members and the wider motoring public to nominate where their nightmare sections of road.or intersections are located.”
Mr Moir said roads with crumbling edges, inadequate crash barriers, sharp bends, a lack of overtaking lanes or large objects or trees close to the road that potentially dangerous and should be reported.
“Road users some times make mistakes but they shouldn’t end up paying with their lives. By creating safer roads and road environments you drastically reduce the risk of death and serious injury if someone were to have an accident.”
Nominations for the Risky Roads campaign close on 31 May 2008.
The RAC will study the 15 most nominated sections of road and a full report will be developed with recommendations to address the issues and distributed to the relevant road authority. The RAC will share all its information with Main Roads WA and relevant local councils.
Nominate your risky road
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