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Cops’ impassioned plea to drivers after WA’s road toll reaches highest in a decade
By Hamish Hastie and Rebecca Peppiatt
The number of people dying on WA’s roads is the highest it has been in a decade, with authorities pleading with drivers after four people died in a spate of accidents on the second last day of the year.
Road Safety Commissioner Adrian Warner said sanctions for those flouting the law while driving were the toughest they had ever been, cars were safer and authorities were getting smarter about targeting drivers.
Major crash is investigating the crash, which saw a 10-year-old boy airlifted to hospital on Sunday.
Still, four people died within a six-hour window on Monday, taking the state’s road toll to 186 deaths.
The first death occurred at 3.50pm when a gold Nissan X-Trail left the road and rolled on George Grey Drive in Yallabatharra in WA’s Mid West region.
The 26-year-old female driver died at the scene while three male passengers in their 20s received minor injuries and were taken to Geraldton Hospital.
Later that evening, a 33-year-old man crossing Main Street in Osborne Park was hit by a silver Lexus driving south.
The 37-year-old female Lexus driver is currently in police custody assisting with their investigation.
Half an hour later in Lake Clifton in the Peel region a white Commodore travelling north on Forrest Highway and a white Holden Captiva travelling south collided.
Both drivers, a 41-year-old woman and a 45-year-old woman, died at the scene.
“It’s a culture problem,” Warner said.
Police plea
Major Crash detectives are investigating the three separate incidents and have appealed to the public for any witnesses to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report the information online at www.crimestopperswa.com.au. Anyone with dashcam footage of the incidents can upload it directly to police using the links at the bottom of this story.
“There are over 2 million licensed drivers in WA. There is over 180,000 kilometres of public roads. Police can’t be everywhere. They target those people who are hoons, who are flouting the laws and they do it well.
“They are doing it smarter, they’re doing it better than ever but, ultimately, it is up to us to make better choices, safer choices, on our roads.”
Acting Commander Road Policing Mike Peters said people need to have more conversations at home about safe driving.
“People continue to die of things that are purely preventable,” he said.
“Don’t speed, don’t drink and drive, wear your seat belt and fatigue, distraction is also a significant issue that we continue to combat through enforcement and other measures.
“What I say to the communities today is the day, if you haven’t had it already this year, to have a conversation with your loved ones, your friends, your family, and talk about road safety.”
The state’s current road toll cements this year as the worst since 2016 and comes amidst a significant rethink of the road safety response.
On December 1, the Tom’s Law P-plater rules came into effect, limiting red P-plate drivers to only one passenger in their vehicle at all times.
The new rules followed the deaths of Tom Saffioti and Nick Campo, who died as passengers in separate crashes in 2021 and July, respectively.
Campo’s father Daniel helped convene a road safety summit in September after the death of his son which resulted in a renewed push for Tom’s Law.
WA Police Commander Quentin Flatman warned New Year’s revellers to drive safely on WA roads.
“I also remind you that double the merits remain in place. So if you are undertaking poor behaviour on our roads, you will be caught,” he said.
Yallabatharra crash:
https://wapf.au.evidence.com/axon/community-request/public/fatalcrashyallabatharra
Osborne Park incident:
https://wapf.au.evidence.com/axon/community-request/public/fatalcrashosbornepark