Strategy to ban speed bumps by 2005 outlined

22/5/95

A strategy to 'ban the speed bump' in Western Australia by the year 2005 was outlined today by Transport Minister Eric Charlton and Traffic Calming Task Force chairperson Barbara Scott MLC.

"I was concerned about WA's high road toll and whether local area traffic management schemes were giving the public the best value for its road safety dollar," Mr Charlton said.

Mrs Scott says the report recommends legislation to prevent the future installation of speed bumps on all public roads and that existing humps be removed progressively within the next ten years.

The task force recommends all road designs and traffic calming devices (roundabouts and chicanes) be safety audited. Local Mayors and Town Clerks must certify that all residents, community groups and relevant authorities have first been consulted.

The principal recommendation of the task force is for the establishment of an Office of Road Safety to replace the Traffic Board of WA.  Its director and board of management (representatives from Main Roads, police, education, planning, the community etc) would be responsible for co-ordinating planning and setting priorities for WA's road safety activities.

"Traffic fines generate about $20 million in revenue annually, or the equivalent of two per cent of the estimated $1,000 million it costs the State in road trauma," Mrs Scott said.

"It is proposed that all revenue derived from traffic infringements would be allocated to the Office of Road Safety for distribution to the improvement of road safety."

Barbara Scott said everyone agreed that the primary goal of traffic calming should be road safety and during the task force investigations there was much community concern about the use of engineering devices over other aspects of traffic calming.  It became clear that the public was concerned about the quality of driver education.

In 1994, 24,000 of the 35,500 reported road crashes were caused by driver error.  Road safety and education needed to begin early with programs to be funded through the Office of Road Safety.

The task force has recommended that all applicants in WA for drivers' licences demonstrate competencies in vehicle handling, road courtesy, regulations and basic car maintenance.

The speed limit of vehicles in local streets must be reduced to 40 kilometres per hour to protect the most vulnerable road users; the very young and the elderly.

"Only by a long-term approach will we be able to alter the 'speed culture' and recklessness that prevails in WA," Mrs Scott said.

Mr Charlton and Mrs Scott said it was necessary to ensure that the road safety dollar was directed at reducing the appalling road toll, which in 1994 was 211.

Copies of the final report of the Ministerial Task Force on Traffic Calming are available from the executive officer, Mr Chris Burger on 310 7752 or 430 7233.

Media contact:  Ian Hasleby 321 7333