Road users urged to slow down through roadworks
A radio advertisement beginning 17 March will run for approximately one month in the lead-up to the Easter long weekend to educate drivers about the dangers of speeding close to road workers.
This comes after the deaths and injuries of several road workers in the South West and Great Southern Regions and highlights the increased danger that speeding drivers present to road workers undertaking maintenance or construction on Western Australia's road network.
Of all the fatal vehicle accidents that police attended in 2010 in WA, 24% were found to have speed as a contributing factor. In the same year, there were 869 crashes where speed was judged by attending police to be a factor in the crash. Of all the rural areas, the Pilbara Region had the highest proportion of crashes relating to speed (16%) with the Great Southern Region not too far behind at 12%.
To safe guard the lives of road workers as well as other road users, remember:
- Please slow down through roadworks.
- If a speed sign is up on the road, please keep to the speed limit posted, even if there are no road workers at the site. The signs are displayed for the safety of road users, for example to warn against significant scouring on the shoulder of the road.
- Be patient. The roads are being improved for the benefit and safety of all road users.
- Expect the unexpected. Speed limits and lanes may have changed from the normal configuration.
- Look out for traffic controllers and obey their signals. Their job is to keep traffic moving.
- Beware of loose stones that may damage vehicles.
- Follow the signs that have been displayed by qualified road workers with safety and efficiency in mind.
The radio advertisement audio (WMA 5 KB) is available for listening.