1. Road Safety Survey Results
Presented to Engineers Australia WA Division
By Simon Ingleson
Advertising Director
The Sunday Times

2. Background
• Few issues spark more community debate than road safety.
• As part of our road toll campaign ‘Under 199 in ’09’ we ran
WA’s biggest road safety survey.
• Results show level of concern our community shares at the
growing road toll.
• Western Australians want our police and courts to get tougher
with rogue drivers.

3. Methodology
• In-paper survey appeared in The
Sunday Times and PerthNow on
March 29.
• WA’s biggest road safety survey with
51 questions and over 8000
responses.
• A sample of 2000 were randomly
selected and analysed by
independent research company
Galaxy.

4. Road toll
Have had a friend or family member killed in a road
36% crash.
Have had a friend or family member seriously injured
34% or permanently disabled from a road crash.
Base: All respondents

5. Driving above speed limits
61% admit to driving above the speed limits.
40%
35% 34%
30%
25% 24%
20%
17%
15%
15%
10%
5% 5%
5%
0%
Every day Several times a week At least once a week About once a month Rarely Never
Q. How often do you drive above the designated speed limit?
Base: All respondents

6. Amount over speed limit
54% admit to driving over 19km/hr over the speed limits.
40%
35% 34%
30%
25% 24%
20%
17%
15%
15%
10%
5%
5%
0%
Less than 9km/hr Between 9km/hr and 19km/hr Between 19km/hr and Between 29km/hr and More than 40km/hr
29km/hr 39km/hr
Q. What would be the most that you have ever driven above the speed limit?
Base: Respondents who speed

7. Road safety
Have not worn a seatbelt
34% while being a driver or
passenger in a car.
Have used a mobile phone
without a hands-free kit or
55% sent text messages while
driving.
Agree with the law that it be
86% illegal to use a mobile
phone while driving.
Q. Base: All Respondents

8. are…
WA drivers are…
None of the above
Tolerant 7% 2%
Helpful 4%
Friendly 6% Arrogant 55%
Impatient 82%
Discourteous 68%
Q. Do you think Western Australian drivers are:
Base: All Respondents

9. Speed cameras
Agree that multanovas and
59% speed cameras are used too
often for revenue raising.
Disagree that multanovas
and speed cameras should
59% only be installed at black
spots.
Agree that the location of
56% speed cameras should be
kept secret.
Q. Base: All Respondents

10. Speed
Would not support speed limit reductions on WA
73% roads.
86% Agree that we need more traffic police on our roads.
Disagree that speed limits in high pedestrian areas
73% should be reduced by 10km/hr to 30km/hr.
Disagree that drivers should be penalised if they
68% alert other motorists to speed cameras.
Q. Base: All Respondents

11. Young drivers
Agree that P-plate drivers should be
80% restricted in the number of passengers
they can carry.
Agree that P-platers caught speeding
60% should lose their licence.
Agree that P-plate drivers should be
89% restricted from driving high-powered
vehicles.
Agree that road safety and driver
91% education should be a mandatory
subject in WA schools.
Q. Base: All Respondents

12. Hoons
Disagree that the level of hoon behaviour has
67% reduced in their neighbourhood due to police efforts
to curb hooning.
Think that impounding
67% penalties for hoon drivers is
not a significant enough
deterrent.
Agree that hoons should have their cars sold, with
49% the money put towards safety campaigns.
Q. Base: All Respondents

13. Drink driving
Think that if a drink driver kills/seriously injured
70% someone they should be charged with
murder/attempted murder.
Support government moves to immediately
70% suspend drivers licences if they blow over 0.08.
Think that if a driver is banned for life from getting
75% behind the wheel, their licence should never be
reinstated by the courts.
Q. Base: All Respondents

14. Drink driving
Agree that anyone caught drink
driving should be forced to
68% install alcohol interlocks in their
cars before they can get their
licence back.
Think that the allowable blood-
73% alcohol limit for all drivers should
not be dropped to 0.0 per cent.
Q. Base: All Respondents

15. Drink driving
Have driven with a blood alcohol level above the
1 in 3 legal limit.
Have driven home after drinking because they
1 in 3 found it too difficult to get a taxi/public transport.
1 in 10 Have driven after consuming illegal drugs.
Q. Base: All Respondents

16. Regional road safety
71% Think theto 100km/h. on country roads should not be
reduced
speed limit
Disagree that roadside
58% barriers should be constructed
along all regional roads.
Q. Base: All Respondents

17. Licensing
80% Think thatto turn in their licence. of 75 should not
be forced
all people over the age
Think all drivers should be forced to complete
43% ‘refresher courses’ every five years.
50% Think double demerit campaignsroadlong weekends
are not effective in reducing the
on
toll.
Q. Base: All Respondents

18. Infrastructure and safer systems
Would not be willing to pay tolls on roads if it meant
72% better and safer roads throughout WA.
Think car manufacturers should be compiled to include
74% safety systems in new cars such as a trip switch that
prevents the car from being started if seatbelts are not
worn.
Think double demerit campaigns on long weekends
50% are not effective in reducing the road toll.
Believe State Government should give financial
52% incentives to businesses that buy fleet vehicles with
at least a 4 star safety rating.
Q. Base: All Respondents

19. Other road users
78% Think that all major roads should have cycling lanes.
Believe that cyclists in general
72% do not pay enough attention on
roads.
Think there should be a limit on
78% the number of cyclists allowed
to ride in a pack.
Think that speed limits on suburban roads should not
87% be reduced by 10km/h to 40km/h to protect cyclists.
Q. Base: All Respondents

20. WA’
WA’s worst black spots
Worst Roads
• Old Coast Rd
• South West Hwy
• Great Eastern Hwy
• Reid Hwy
• Albany Hwy
Horror Intersections
• Reid Hwy & Mirrabooka Ave, Mirrabooka
• Reid Hwy & Alexander Dr, Mirrabooka
• Roe Hwy & Great Eastern Hwy, Midvale
• Beaufort St & Walcott St, Mt Lawley
• Roe Hwy & Tonkin Hwy, Forrestfield
Q. Base: All Respondents

21. Reactions to the survey
• Road Safety Minister Rob Johnson said he was impressed by
the big response to the survey, saying it demonstrated the
high level of community concern.
• He has flagged support for road safety and driver education to
be introduced into the school curriculum for Year 10, 11 and
12.
• Said he would discuss the idea with Education Minister Liz
Constable.

22. Reactions to the survey
• Road Safety Council Chairman Grant Dorrington emphasised
that government agencies can only go so far.
• He said that every road user has to take responsibility for their
own behaviour. Motorists have to do their bit.

23. Commitment to the community
• The Sunday Times gives commitment to readers to
investigate dangerous roads, get answers and solutions from
politicians and road-safety authorities.
• Ask that politicians and road safety authorities don’t just listen
but take action.

24. Thank you