Traffic Deaths in WA

Summary of stats-

• WA Deaths per 100,000 people in 2007 will probably reach 11. (up for the second year in a row)
• WA death rates where up over 20% in 2006 vs 2005 with passenger, pedestrian and cycle deaths up over 45%
  
• Australia rates in 2006 are 8.7 per 100,000 people
• In England 2006 the rate was 5. Five years ago England and WA where similar now more people will die in WA than in London.
  
• In WA deaths where the posted speed limit is less than 60km per hour are up 50% in 2006 vs 2005
  
• Rural Roads are a factor, but accident rates are above Canada with a similar rural profile and winters that should make accident rates considerably worse, Canada road deaths are 9 per 100,000 people.
• While death rates are down in WA total actual road deaths in WA has hardly changed for 25 years, unlike Australia as a whole where total deaths are down substantially
  

Option

• Accident rates in WA are above the average in Australia and way above other countries, a large part of this increase is coming from Urban areas.
  
• Something needs to be done, targeting urban areas.
  
• Cars have improve, but driving and attitudes worsened, these areas need to be focused on.
• Recent surveys suggest speeding is a major concern for WA residents
• Root courses for the recent increase are unclear, may be connected to recent economic success
  

Suggestions

• WA should consider risk based insurance premiums that would weed out persistent speeders by making it to expensive for them to drive.
• Implement speed cameras, on mass, like the UK.
  
• Driver education
• Increased penalties for Killing people with a car. This appears to be regarded as accidental judging from recent court cases.
  
• Increase penalties for speeding and drink driving, particularly when speeds of 40km per hr over the speed limit.