Safety should always be paramount when we navigate the roads of life.

Unfortunately, Australia has witnessed the devastating impact of road injuries and fatalities.

In a bold move to address this deadly issue, one region may revolutionise road safety with a new set of regulations—a first in the country.

Western Australia may pioneer major road rule changes through a trial that will happen in December.

Once approved, WA will implement reduced speed on nearly 2000 roads, with a particular focus on regional areas where road deaths happen at an alarming rate.

This year, WA witnessed a harrowing surge in road fatalities.

Western Australia has seen over a hundred road-related accidents, which led to injuries or death. Image Credit: Pexels/Lachlan Ross

Halfway through the year, the state had recorded 102 deaths, which served as a grim indicator that 2024 could be one of the deadliest years for road safety in a decade.

The statistics are particularly dire for regional roads.

About 60 per cent of these fatalities have occurred outside metropolitan areas.

This prompted road authorities to take action, and reducing speed limits could be a critical first step.

By December this year, the councils of the Shire of Augusta Margaret River and the City of Busselton will cast their votes on implementing reduced speed limits on roads between the two local government areas.

This should include 550 roads in the Shire and 1250 roads in the City.

Once approved, these changes should come into effect from early 2025 under a trial.

The said trial would run for three years to thoroughly assess the impact of the new speed limits.

This initiative was a collaboration between the two LGAs and the Royal Automobile Club of Western Australia (RAC).

RAC General Manager for External Relations, Will Golsby, spoke about the trial's objectives.

It should 'measure the extent to which lower speed limits help save lives' and prevent severe, road-related injuries.

The proposed speed limit reductions would be tailored to the specific needs of each area.

Speed limits should lower from 50 km/h to 40 km/h in high pedestrian zones like Busselton, Augusta and residential streets.

Sealed roads west of Bussell Highway should have new limits between 70 km/h and 80 km/h.

Roads through built-up areas—including the Bussell Highway through Busselton and Bayview Drive entering Gracetown—should have a speed limit between 50 km/h to 60 km/h.

Golsby believed that there was 'strong evidence from around the world' that speed limit reductions could decrease road-related accidents.

The WA Road Safety Commission also identified speed as a leading factor in road trauma within the state.

WA Centre for Road Safety Research Director Teresa Senserrick advocated for a decrease in the default speed speed limit on outback roads in the state.

As of writing, the speed limit currently stands at 110 km/h—one of the highest limits globally.

Senserrick wanted this limit to be reduced as a starting point, hoping that the rest of the country would follow suit.

Earlier this year, other states, such as the Northern Territory, have also eyed changing their speed limits.

As we await the outcome of the upcoming vote, drivers must stay informed and adapt to these potential new laws.

The safety of our community is paramount, and adhering to these changes could save countless lives.

Key Takeaways

• Western Australia has considered a significant road rule change through a speed limit reduction trial on almost 2000 roads to combat high road fatality rates.
• Once approved, a speed limit trial should start in early 2025 and would take effect for three years.
• The Royal Automobile Club of Western Australia (RAC) supported the move, with evidence suggesting lower speed limits could decrease road deaths and injuries.
• The trial should implement lower speed limits in high pedestrian areas and on sealed roads, among others.

Have you experienced close calls on regional roads? Do you believe that reducing speed limits will make a difference? Join the conversation and share your thoughts and opinions with us in the comments below.

 

[Ebby]

Most of us do daft things when we are young and if you haven't you haven't lived. l remember my husband to be persuading a very nervous me to get on the back of his 250 BSA motor bike.He had stuffed a complete teaset under his zip up jacket to take to my flat in Leeds UK .Later we went everywhere on that bike flying along the main highways full pelt no helmets and never once picking up a ticket but he was very good driver.

 

[Tigers]

That sounds GREAT, that Gov, & local gov, are looking at speed limits in dif, areas,...BUT..........SPEED should NOT be the ONLY consideration. CONDIDION OF THE ROADS for one. ect, ect,.

 

[DavidEsplin]

// Heads up! A landmark road rule change is coming // - Except the article has nothing to do with a change to road rules.

 

[Dirtdevil]

As I am not familiar with these roads it’s hard to give an answer to this proposal, however I often wonder how many of these fatalities are caused by road condition.
Its a lot cheaper to lower the speed limits than to bring the road condition up to the posted speed limit.
it would be interesting to see the statistics of these fatalities, was persons age, age of vehicle, speed, time of day, road conditions something else distracting drives.
In some places speed is so slow that you no longer drive the car you just steer, this adding to inattentive driving. With modern cars with all the gadgets and ease of really not needing to physically do many thing in your car, you just use voice commands Does not help.
having a long distance driving history for over thirty years the difference of ten kph higher makes a Hugh difference to your concentration.