Published on Thursday, 4 June 2026 at 12:10:00 PM
South West RoadWise Councils continue to demonstrate leadership in road safety by delivering practical evidence-based treatments that reduce risk and support safer local road environments.
Through the progressive application of safe system principles, RoadWise Councils are taking meaningful steps towards better practice road safety outcomes for their communities.
There are well established road safety treatments proven to reduce both the likelihood and severity of crashes. Proactive delivery of effective treatments across local road networks supports long-term reductions in road trauma, particularly by addressing known high risk crash types. Implementing interventions that create protective and survivable speed limits, protect vulnerable road users, improve intersection safety, establish more forgiving roadsides, and provide separation of oncoming traffic, deliver the greatest safety gains across the road network.
The following outlines the variety of effective treatments delivered by South West RoadWise Councils and captured through WALGA’s RoadWise Council initiative. Collectively, these actions target priority road safety areas and contribute to safer local roads for all users.
Appropriate speed limits are a critical protective measure, directly influencing crash risks and injury severity. By aligning speed limits with road functions, surrounding land use and existing protective features, Councils are improving survivability if crashes occur.
Actions delivered to progress protective and survivable speed limits have included:
- trialling a network-wide, consistent approach to speed limit reductions aligned with safe system principles
- implementing 40km/h speed limits across a townsite
- extending lower speed environments
- applying traffic calming treatments on local streets
- installing advisory speed signage to warn of changes in conditions, and
- using courtesy speed display signs to engage drivers in monitoring their travel speeds.
People walking and cycling are more exposed to serious injury in crashes due to limited physical protection.
Creating safe, predictable and separated environments is essential to protecting these users and encouraging active transport. Actions delivered have included:
- the construction of approximately 2.3kms of new footpaths to address missing links and provide safe, separated facilities
- reconstruction and upgrading of existing paths to improve consistency and meet contemporary standards, and
- the realignment of highway pedestrian crossing points to lower speed environments.
Improving visibility, managing speeds and reducing complexity are key to reducing crash risks at intersections. Interventions delivered to support more protective intersections have included:
- applying traffic calming treatments at three intersections to slow intersection speeds
- introducing pre-deflection at existing roundabouts, and
- undertaking intersection safety reviews with recommendations implemented to improve clarity, visibility and overall safety.
Run-off-road crashes remain a significant contributor to serious injuries and fatalities, particularly on regional roads.
Protective roadsides reduce crash severity by providing recovery space and minimising the impact of roadside hazards. Initiatives delivered have included:
- upgrading approximately 51kms of roads with sealed shoulders and audible edge lines
- implementing roadside vegetation management planning to maintain clear zones, and
- delivering 4kms of lane widening and edge line marking upgrades to improve road clarity.
Clear separation of oncoming traffic improves predictability and supports safe vehicle positioning, reducing the risk of head-on crashes. Actions delivered have included:
- applying centre line markings across approximately 26.9kms of previously unmarked roads, and
- supporting this with new centre and edge line markings to improve lane discipline and driver guidance.
Together, these initiatives demonstrate the collective impact South West RoadWise Councils are making to proactively and progressively improve safety across the region and deliver safer local roads.
Back to All News