❓ A parliamentary question seeks data on safe following distances, enforcement, and crash statistics related to tailgating in WA for 2006-07. The response provides some data but notes limitations in record-keeping.
AnsweredQoN 1267Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
ROAD TRAFFIC CODE - REGULATION 109
On behalf of Hon Donna Faragher, I refer to regulation 109 of the Road Traffic Code 2000, “Keeping a safe distance behind vehicles”, and ask - (1) What is deemed to be a safe distance behind another travelling vehicle for the purposes of this regulation? (2) How many drivers were charged with a breach of this regulation in 2006-07? (3) Of those referred to at (2), how many were - (a) witnessed by police; or (b) reported to police? (4) How many road crashes in Western Australia were the result of following too closely behind another vehicle in 2006-07? Hon JON FORD
On behalf of Hon Donna Faragher, I refer to regulation 109 of the Road Traffic Code 2000, “Keeping a safe distance behind vehicles”, and ask - (1) What is deemed to be a safe distance behind another travelling vehicle for the purposes of this regulation? (2) How many drivers were charged with a breach of this regulation in 2006-07? (3) Of those referred to at (2), how many were - (a) witnessed by police; or (b) reported to police? (4) How many road crashes in Western Australia were the result of following too closely behind another vehicle in 2006-07? Hon JON FORD
AnswerView source ↗
I thank Hon Donna Faragher for some notice of this question. The Minister for Police and Emergency Services has provided the following answer - (1) In the road safety booklet by the Department for Planning and Infrastructure, advice to learner drivers is that the safe distance is 16 metres at 60 kilometres an hour. The general principles are based on time, place and circumstance. Numerous factors need to be considered when assessing this offence, including the speed of the vehicles involved and weather conditions at the time. (2) There were 936 infringement notices issued, and 73 drivers were charged under section 109 of the Road Traffic Code 2000. (3) This information is not recorded. (4) Statistics for the cause of crashes, other than for serious or fatal crashes, are not recorded. There were no fatal crashes recorded for this offence; only one serious crash.
(1) What is deemed to be a safe distance behind another travelling vehicle for the purposes of this regulation? (2) How many drivers were charged with a breach of this regulation in 2006-07? (3) Of those referred to at (2), how many were - (a) witnessed by police; or (b) reported to police? (4) How many road crashes in Western Australia were the result of following too closely behind another vehicle in 2006-07? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Donna Faragher for some notice of this question. The Minister for Police and Emergency Services has provided the following answer - (1) In the road safety booklet by the Department for Planning and Infrastructure, advice to learner drivers is that the safe distance is 16 metres at 60 kilometres an hour. The general principles are based on time, place and circumstance. Numerous factors need to be considered when assessing this offence, including the speed of the vehicles involved and weather conditions at the time. (2) There were 936 infringement notices issued, and 73 drivers were charged under section 109 of the Road Traffic Code 2000. (3) This information is not recorded. (4) Statistics for the cause of crashes, other than for serious or fatal crashes, are not recorded. There were no fatal crashes recorded for this offence; only one serious crash.
(2) How many drivers were charged with a breach of this regulation in 2006-07? (3) Of those referred to at (2), how many were - (a) witnessed by police; or (b) reported to police? (4) How many road crashes in Western Australia were the result of following too closely behind another vehicle in 2006-07? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Donna Faragher for some notice of this question. The Minister for Police and Emergency Services has provided the following answer - (1) In the road safety booklet by the Department for Planning and Infrastructure, advice to learner drivers is that the safe distance is 16 metres at 60 kilometres an hour. The general principles are based on time, place and circumstance. Numerous factors need to be considered when assessing this offence, including the speed of the vehicles involved and weather conditions at the time. (2) There were 936 infringement notices issued, and 73 drivers were charged under section 109 of the Road Traffic Code 2000. (3) This information is not recorded. (4) Statistics for the cause of crashes, other than for serious or fatal crashes, are not recorded. There were no fatal crashes recorded for this offence; only one serious crash.
(3) Of those referred to at (2), how many were - (a) witnessed by police; or (b) reported to police? (4) How many road crashes in Western Australia were the result of following too closely behind another vehicle in 2006-07? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Donna Faragher for some notice of this question. The Minister for Police and Emergency Services has provided the following answer - (1) In the road safety booklet by the Department for Planning and Infrastructure, advice to learner drivers is that the safe distance is 16 metres at 60 kilometres an hour. The general principles are based on time, place and circumstance. Numerous factors need to be considered when assessing this offence, including the speed of the vehicles involved and weather conditions at the time. (2) There were 936 infringement notices issued, and 73 drivers were charged under section 109 of the Road Traffic Code 2000. (3) This information is not recorded. (4) Statistics for the cause of crashes, other than for serious or fatal crashes, are not recorded. There were no fatal crashes recorded for this offence; only one serious crash.
(b) reported to police?
Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Donna Faragher for some notice of this question. The Minister for Police and Emergency Services has provided the following answer - (1) In the road safety booklet by the Department for Planning and Infrastructure, advice to learner drivers is that the safe distance is 16 metres at 60 kilometres an hour. The general principles are based on time, place and circumstance. Numerous factors need to be considered when assessing this offence, including the speed of the vehicles involved and weather conditions at the time. (2) There were 936 infringement notices issued, and 73 drivers were charged under section 109 of the Road Traffic Code 2000. (3) This information is not recorded. (4) Statistics for the cause of crashes, other than for serious or fatal crashes, are not recorded. There were no fatal crashes recorded for this offence; only one serious crash.
I thank Hon Donna Faragher for some notice of this question. The Minister for Police and Emergency Services has provided the following answer - (1) In the road safety booklet by the Department for Planning and Infrastructure, advice to learner drivers is that the safe distance is 16 metres at 60 kilometres an hour. The general principles are based on time, place and circumstance. Numerous factors need to be considered when assessing this offence, including the speed of the vehicles involved and weather conditions at the time. (2) There were 936 infringement notices issued, and 73 drivers were charged under section 109 of the Road Traffic Code 2000. (3) This information is not recorded. (4) Statistics for the cause of crashes, other than for serious or fatal crashes, are not recorded. There were no fatal crashes recorded for this offence; only one serious crash.
(1) In the road safety booklet by the Department for Planning and Infrastructure, advice to learner drivers is that the safe distance is 16 metres at 60 kilometres an hour. The general principles are based on time, place and circumstance. Numerous factors need to be considered when assessing this offence, including the speed of the vehicles involved and weather conditions at the time. (2) There were 936 infringement notices issued, and 73 drivers were charged under section 109 of the Road Traffic Code 2000. (3) This information is not recorded. (4) Statistics for the cause of crashes, other than for serious or fatal crashes, are not recorded. There were no fatal crashes recorded for this offence; only one serious crash.
(2) There were 936 infringement notices issued, and 73 drivers were charged under section 109 of the Road Traffic Code 2000. (3) This information is not recorded. (4) Statistics for the cause of crashes, other than for serious or fatal crashes, are not recorded. There were no fatal crashes recorded for this offence; only one serious crash.
(3) This information is not recorded. (4) Statistics for the cause of crashes, other than for serious or fatal crashes, are not recorded. There were no fatal crashes recorded for this offence; only one serious crash.
(4) Statistics for the cause of crashes, other than for serious or fatal crashes, are not recorded. There were no fatal crashes recorded for this offence; only one serious crash.
(1) What is deemed to be a safe distance behind another travelling vehicle for the purposes of this regulation? (2) How many drivers were charged with a breach of this regulation in 2006-07? (3) Of those referred to at (2), how many were - (a) witnessed by police; or (b) reported to police? (4) How many road crashes in Western Australia were the result of following too closely behind another vehicle in 2006-07? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Donna Faragher for some notice of this question. The Minister for Police and Emergency Services has provided the following answer - (1) In the road safety booklet by the Department for Planning and Infrastructure, advice to learner drivers is that the safe distance is 16 metres at 60 kilometres an hour. The general principles are based on time, place and circumstance. Numerous factors need to be considered when assessing this offence, including the speed of the vehicles involved and weather conditions at the time. (2) There were 936 infringement notices issued, and 73 drivers were charged under section 109 of the Road Traffic Code 2000. (3) This information is not recorded. (4) Statistics for the cause of crashes, other than for serious or fatal crashes, are not recorded. There were no fatal crashes recorded for this offence; only one serious crash.
(2) How many drivers were charged with a breach of this regulation in 2006-07? (3) Of those referred to at (2), how many were - (a) witnessed by police; or (b) reported to police? (4) How many road crashes in Western Australia were the result of following too closely behind another vehicle in 2006-07? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Donna Faragher for some notice of this question. The Minister for Police and Emergency Services has provided the following answer - (1) In the road safety booklet by the Department for Planning and Infrastructure, advice to learner drivers is that the safe distance is 16 metres at 60 kilometres an hour. The general principles are based on time, place and circumstance. Numerous factors need to be considered when assessing this offence, including the speed of the vehicles involved and weather conditions at the time. (2) There were 936 infringement notices issued, and 73 drivers were charged under section 109 of the Road Traffic Code 2000. (3) This information is not recorded. (4) Statistics for the cause of crashes, other than for serious or fatal crashes, are not recorded. There were no fatal crashes recorded for this offence; only one serious crash.
(3) Of those referred to at (2), how many were - (a) witnessed by police; or (b) reported to police? (4) How many road crashes in Western Australia were the result of following too closely behind another vehicle in 2006-07? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Donna Faragher for some notice of this question. The Minister for Police and Emergency Services has provided the following answer - (1) In the road safety booklet by the Department for Planning and Infrastructure, advice to learner drivers is that the safe distance is 16 metres at 60 kilometres an hour. The general principles are based on time, place and circumstance. Numerous factors need to be considered when assessing this offence, including the speed of the vehicles involved and weather conditions at the time. (2) There were 936 infringement notices issued, and 73 drivers were charged under section 109 of the Road Traffic Code 2000. (3) This information is not recorded. (4) Statistics for the cause of crashes, other than for serious or fatal crashes, are not recorded. There were no fatal crashes recorded for this offence; only one serious crash.
(b) reported to police?
Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Donna Faragher for some notice of this question. The Minister for Police and Emergency Services has provided the following answer - (1) In the road safety booklet by the Department for Planning and Infrastructure, advice to learner drivers is that the safe distance is 16 metres at 60 kilometres an hour. The general principles are based on time, place and circumstance. Numerous factors need to be considered when assessing this offence, including the speed of the vehicles involved and weather conditions at the time. (2) There were 936 infringement notices issued, and 73 drivers were charged under section 109 of the Road Traffic Code 2000. (3) This information is not recorded. (4) Statistics for the cause of crashes, other than for serious or fatal crashes, are not recorded. There were no fatal crashes recorded for this offence; only one serious crash.
I thank Hon Donna Faragher for some notice of this question. The Minister for Police and Emergency Services has provided the following answer - (1) In the road safety booklet by the Department for Planning and Infrastructure, advice to learner drivers is that the safe distance is 16 metres at 60 kilometres an hour. The general principles are based on time, place and circumstance. Numerous factors need to be considered when assessing this offence, including the speed of the vehicles involved and weather conditions at the time. (2) There were 936 infringement notices issued, and 73 drivers were charged under section 109 of the Road Traffic Code 2000. (3) This information is not recorded. (4) Statistics for the cause of crashes, other than for serious or fatal crashes, are not recorded. There were no fatal crashes recorded for this offence; only one serious crash.
(1) In the road safety booklet by the Department for Planning and Infrastructure, advice to learner drivers is that the safe distance is 16 metres at 60 kilometres an hour. The general principles are based on time, place and circumstance. Numerous factors need to be considered when assessing this offence, including the speed of the vehicles involved and weather conditions at the time. (2) There were 936 infringement notices issued, and 73 drivers were charged under section 109 of the Road Traffic Code 2000. (3) This information is not recorded. (4) Statistics for the cause of crashes, other than for serious or fatal crashes, are not recorded. There were no fatal crashes recorded for this offence; only one serious crash.
(2) There were 936 infringement notices issued, and 73 drivers were charged under section 109 of the Road Traffic Code 2000. (3) This information is not recorded. (4) Statistics for the cause of crashes, other than for serious or fatal crashes, are not recorded. There were no fatal crashes recorded for this offence; only one serious crash.
(3) This information is not recorded. (4) Statistics for the cause of crashes, other than for serious or fatal crashes, are not recorded. There were no fatal crashes recorded for this offence; only one serious crash.
(4) Statistics for the cause of crashes, other than for serious or fatal crashes, are not recorded. There were no fatal crashes recorded for this offence; only one serious crash.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.