The Nationals WA have unveiled a plan to tackle the rising road toll across WA with the $276 million Safer Local Roads program.
This initiative is designed to improve road safety on more than 8,200 kilometres of high-speed local government roads, with a focus on reducing fatalities and serious injuries.
The Nationals candidate for Darling Range, Morgan Byas, said road safety must be a top priority ahead of the 2025 State Election.
“With 139 lives tragically lost on our roads this year, WA is facing a devastating road safety crisis,” Morgan Byas said.
“This funding will deliver critical safety improvements like lane widening, audible line marking, and sealing road shoulders.”
The program is based on recommendations from the WA Local Government Association (WALGA) and the RAC, who have called for a total of $552 million in funding to be shared between the state and federal governments.
“The Nationals WA will ensure the State’s $276 million share is included in our first budget, sending a clear message to the federal government about the importance of this program and the urgent need to fund road safety,” Morgan Byas said.
“Half of all fatal or serious crashes in regional WA occur on local government roads, yet these are often overlooked for funding, and many are in dire need of improvements.
“These simple, low-cost treatments, such as sealing road shoulders and installing audible tactile lines can drastically reduce the frequency of run-off crashes.
“According to modelling, the program has the potential to reduce fatalities by up to 50 per cent and serious injuries by 35 per cent.”
The Safer Local Roads program will cover 439 high-speed roads in regional and peri-urban areas making up around one-third of WA’s sealed regional road network. Morgan Byas said the program could be funded from the Insurance Commission of WA, which will return over $217 million in dividends to the Treasury over the next four years.
