Road Safety in the Wheatbelt South

Region Profile

The Wheatbelt South region has a population of 21,417 and covers an area of 54,694 square kilometres (kms) which incorporates 1,553kms of state roads and 17,038kms of local roads.

Local Governments

Road Safety Performance in the Wheatbelt South Region

WALGA's RoadWise has developed the Road Safety Performance on Local Government Roads reports to assist Local Governments who wish to improve road safety outcomes for their communities. 

The reports are designed to help:

  1. measure the road safety performance of the road network they manage,
  2. monitor changes (positive or negative) in road safety performance over time, 
  3. establish road safety improvement targets, and
  4. identify and prioritise the work that will lead to improvements in the road safety performance of the road network.

Local Governments in the Wheatbelt South region should contact Regional Road Safety Advisor, Rodney Thornton to obtain a copy of the reports and supporting notes, and for further information and assistance.

How Many People are Killed or Seriously Injured in the Wheatbelt South?

For every death on roads in the Wheatbelt South region during the 2015-2019 period, there were many more people seriously injured. Many of these serious injuries result in permanent disability and change lives forever, placing a huge burden on public health resources and the community.

The definition of a road fatality in WA is: a person who was killed immediately or died within 30 days of the date of a road crash, as a result of the crash. The definition of a serious injury in WA is: admitted to hospital as an inpatient for treatment of injuries sustained in a crash but did not die within 30 days of the crash.

The first image to the right provides a breakdown, for the Wheatbelt South region, of the proportion and number of people killed or seriously injured (KSI) on State versus Local Government roads.

The second image to the right shows the average annual KSI rate per 100,000 population for both State and Local Government roads, the change from the last reporting period and data about road length and usage.

What are the Most Common Crash Types in the Wheatbelt South?

In the Wheatbelt South region, the most common crash types include run-off-road, non-collision and hit object crashes.

This data, taken from the Wheatbelt South region Road Safety Performance on Local Government Roads 2015-2019 Report, can assist Local Governments to prioritise their time, resources, and effort towards implementing road safety interventions which target treatment of the crashes that are killing and injuring the most people in their area.

How can I get Involved in Road Safety in the Wheatbelt South?

We can all play a role in preventing road crashes. Governments, communities, and individual road users can all contribute in different ways to reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on our roads.

There are a number of road safety initiatives being implemented in the Wheatbelt South region, two being Coffee Stop and Driver Reviver.

These programs provide free coffee or tea to drivers to encouraging them to take a break from driving, helping to address driver fatigue in Western Australia.

To find out how you can get involved in these and other road safety initiatives, visit the Take Action section of this website or contact Regional Road Safety Advisor, Rodney Thornton.

Can I get my Child Car Restraint Installed or Inspected in the Wheatbelt South?

WALGA RoadWise coordinates the Type 1 Child Car Restraint Fitting Service which provides the public with access to child car restraint fitting services across Western Australia. To find a local Type 1 Fitter in the Wheatbelt South region, visit the Wheatbelt South Type 1 Fitters page.

If new or additional child car restraint anchorage points are required (called aftermarket anchorage points), they must be installed in accordance with statutory vehicle safety requirements. View the Type 2 Child Restraint Fitting Station document to locate a Type 2 Child Restraint Fitting Station near you.

Where can I Find Local Road Safety News?

Visit the News section of this website and follow the WALGA RoadWise Facebook page to keep up to date with local, state and national road safety news, plus research, professional development opportunities and best practice road safety actions.

Who can I Contact for More Information?

Regional Road Safety Advisor, Rodney Thornton services the Wheatbelt South region and is available to provide advice and support road safety action across the region.

Email Rodney at rthornton@walga.asn.au or call 0409 689 313.