Record $111m allocated for road safety

The State Government has allocated a record $111 million from the Road Trauma Trust Account to help reduce road trauma in Western Australia.

Geraldton MLA Ian Blayney said funding would go towards road safety initiatives which had a proven record in reducing crashes.

Mr Blayney said $46 million would go towards road safety treatments to address run off road crashes including shoulder widening, audible line edging, wire rope barriers and overtaking lanes.

Run off road crashes represent one-third of people who are killed or seriously injured on WA roads. It is even higher in regional areas and represents 62 per cent of serious crashes in remote WA.

Mr Blayney said $12 million would fund safety treatments at metropolitan intersections including modified traffic signals, roundabouts and speed management treatments such as speed humps.

Intersection crashes represent one-third of people killed or seriously injured on WA roads.

Mr Blayney said $5.5 million would be allocated to increase drug and alcohol testing of motorists and there is also an extra $1.56 million to support the Government's alcohol interlock program aimed at serious drink drivers.

More than $15 million has been allocated for road safety education programs and campaigns, research and analysis as well as road safety policy and co-ordination.

Mr Blayney said the Liberal National Government would remain relentless in further reducing road trauma through safer roads, enforcement and education.