WA Parliamentary Question on Notice regarding traffic accident investigations, focusing on causes, contributing factors, responsible agencies, public access to information, and inclusion of off-road accidents in official statistics. The answer reveals details about police and Department of Main Roads investigations, publication of crash statistics, and limitations on data inclusion.

AnsweredQoN 2407Legislative Assembly
Asked
12 June 2007
Portfolio
Community Safety

QuestionView source ↗

(a) the cause of each accident; and
(b) the contributing factors in each case?
(2) In addition to fatal accidents, what other accidents are investigated in this way?
(3) Who carries out such investigations and what are their positions, and with which agencies?
(4) Are the detailed results of these investigations available for public scrutiny?
(5) Are any accidents that occur off gazetted roads included in the official traffic accident statistics?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
14 August 2007
Responded by
Minister for Community Safety
Response time
63 days
(1) - (2) Yes. All fatal and serious injury (life threatening or permanent injuries) traffic crashes are investigated by Police to determine the cause of each accident and any contributing factors.
The Department of Main Roads conduct road audit investigations at the scene of all fatal crashes to determine if the construction of the particular road was a contributing factor.
Only fatal traffic crashes are investigated by the Department of Main Roads and the State Coroner.
(3) The Police Major Crash Investigation Section conducts all investigations into fatal and serious injury crashes where the offending driver has survived and charges are likely to be laid.  All fatal and serious injury crashes where no charges are likely to be made are investigated by the local Police District Crash Investigator.
Major Crash Investigation Section has 14 investigators trained to various levels of crash attendance and reconstruction.
The Department of Main Roads employ their own investigators to conduct road audits.
(4) An annual publication is produced titled "Reported Road Crashes in WA" which provides statistics on road crashes including information on road user groups, crash types, contributing factors and hospitalization data. The most recent published copy relates to 2003 statistics. Ongoing problems with research contractors created delays with books between the years 2001 and 2003. Preparation of the 2004 book is almost complete following the appointment of a new contractor. It is anticipated that the 2005 book will follow quickly and work has now begun on the 2006 publication. Access to crash reports can be made in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 1992.
(5) No. Only crashes that occur on gazetted roads are included in the official traffic accident statistics.
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