Police and road safety leaders have urged drivers to take caution ahead of the holiday season.
Double demerits have begun and will stay in place until 4 January.
Road Safety Minister Reece Whitby, Road Safety Commissioner Adrian Warner, Police Commander Mike Peters and Injury Matters road trauma program manager Ian Holbrook united this week under a shared message that, while police will be out in force, every person on the road has a responsibility to keep the community safe.
“We've had more than 220 fatality-free days so far this year, and that means that over millions of journeys, some short, some long, most of us made it home safely to the ones we love,” Mr Warner said.
“But on 127 days, there were serious crashes that have resulted in 178 deaths.
“Those people are not numbers or statistics, they have names, their lives mattered.”
This double demerit period is the first with new safety cameras in operation to target distracted driving and seatbelt use.
Currently, just under 100,000 licensed drivers in WA have six or more demerit points and 450,000 others have between one and five demerit points.
During double demerits, seat belt offences are eight points, mobile phone offences start at six points and running a red light is also six points.
“We will keep investing in safer roads, we will keep investing in education, in research, in community engagement, but road safety is complex.
“We can't simply engineer, educate or enforce our way to zero.
“We need you to do your part, and that boils down to more people being more mindful, making safer choices more often and driving to the conditions.”
Registered psychologist and Injury Matters road trauma program manager Ian Holbrook said hundreds of Western Australian lives are dramatically changed every year due to road trauma.
“The effects of road trauma don't just end at the site of a crash,” he said.
“It ripples through families, workplaces and communities.”
Many families will be grieving for a loved one lost on our roads this Christmas.
“One moment can change everything,” he said.
“A single decision on our roads, whether to speed a little bit here or have a few extra drinks before you leave that party, perhaps it's even just glancing at your phone for a very short moment that can have an absolute devastating and catastrophic outcome changing many people's lives.
“This Christmas let's make the right choices, the choices that respect one another on the roads.
“Slow down, stay sober, stay focused, remembering that driving is a privilege, it's not a right.
“Every journey should end with families coming together, not being torn apart.”
Injury Matters also works closely with first responders and emergency services who are also affected by road trauma.
If you or anyone you know has been affected by a road crash contact Road Trauma Support WA on 1300 004 814.
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