South West motorists urged to drive safe over Christmas

Local governments in the South West are working towards achieving zero deaths and serious injuries on roads, and reminding people to drive safe this Christmas.

More than 20 people have died on South West roads this year, with many more seriously injured.

It is a number the WA Local Government Association RoadWise is not willing to accept, and through its Road Ribbon for Road Safety campaign, hopes to reduce.

As chairman of the Regional Road Group — which consists of 16 local councils covering the area from Mandurah to Walpole — Peter Robinson said zero deaths and injuries was their goal.

Mr Robinson said there were four facets to keeping regional roads safe — safe speeds, safe drivers, safe vehicles and safe roads and roadsides — and everyone had a role to play.

If we can work on those four things together, then the statistical analysis will bring the road toll down.

He said roads fell under three categories — State, Main Roads and regional — and each of the 16 councils were responsible for auditing regional roads in their area to ensure the quality of the pavement, road base, road width and roadsides.

And on the driver’s part, Mr Robinson said they needed to comply with the law by not speeding or driving under the influence, as well as being aware of fatigue while driving long distances.