❓ A parliamentary question regarding the increase in critical injuries on WA roads in 2014, particularly in rural areas, and the Minister's response outlining government initiatives and reviews. The response is challenged for not directly addressing the cause of the increase.
AnsweredQoN 130Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ROAD SAFETY REVIEW — PETER BROWNE
CONSULTING
130. Mr M.P. MURRAY to the Minister for Police:
That answer was very short. It
sounded like the minister did not know the answer. Anyway, I ask a supplementary
question. What does the minister attribute the massive increase in critical
injuries in 2014 to, including many in country areas?
CONSULTING
130. Mr M.P. MURRAY to the Minister for Police:
That answer was very short. It
sounded like the minister did not know the answer. Anyway, I ask a supplementary
question. What does the minister attribute the massive increase in critical
injuries in 2014 to, including many in country areas?
AnswerView source ↗
I am not sure how this supplementary
question relates to the original question. It is true that last year was not a
good year for road safety in this state. As of midnight last night, this year's
road toll stands at 31 fatalities. In response to last year's road
toll, the government announced a number of initiatives. There was a
disproportionate representation of motorcyclists in the number of fatalities
and serious injuries. The Motorcycle Safety Review Group, an expert group of
people, is looking at the number of fatalities and serious injuries. It is
carrying out a comprehensive review of over 7 000 motorcycle crashes over the
past five years. It will be making recommendations to government on any trends
or patterns that are emerging in that space. Interestingly, one of the first
myths to be dispelled is that people do not see motorcyclists in wet weather.
That review shows that the vast majority of motorcycle crashes occurred on
bright, sunny, clear days. That review was one of our initiatives. We have set
up another expert panel to investigate road safety in regional WA. It is
looking at a range of major roads and highways throughout the wheatbelt to see
where these fatalities and serious injuries are occurring. We expect this group
to make a recommendation to the government on whether there is an education
responsibility —
Point of Order
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I note that
once again the minister is not answering the question asked. It was a supplementary
question asking whether she knew what drove the massive increase in critical
injuries in 2014 compared with the previous year. We have had nothing from her
as to what is driving the critical injuries; it is just a random diatribe on
road safety.
The SPEAKER : You made your
point, member. Minister, I think you were coming to that answer. Can you wind
it up, please.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : Mr Speaker, I think I was quite specific. I talked about the
road toll last year. I said that there was a disproportionate representation of
motorcyclists. We are doing something about that. There was a disproportionate
representation of fatalities in the wheatbelt. As a result of the
disproportionate number of fatalities and serious injuries in the wheatbelt, we
are reviewing where those crashes are occurring. We are looking at whether
patches of road need to be improved and whether we need an education campaign.
Some of the crashes involve seatbelts, some involve alcohol and some involve
drug-affected drivers. I have asked the review group to come back to me and
tell me where the trends are so that the government can initiate whatever
policy levers we need and take action to prevent them.
Mr
P.B. Watson interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I call you to order for the first time.
question relates to the original question. It is true that last year was not a
good year for road safety in this state. As of midnight last night, this year's
road toll stands at 31 fatalities. In response to last year's road
toll, the government announced a number of initiatives. There was a
disproportionate representation of motorcyclists in the number of fatalities
and serious injuries. The Motorcycle Safety Review Group, an expert group of
people, is looking at the number of fatalities and serious injuries. It is
carrying out a comprehensive review of over 7 000 motorcycle crashes over the
past five years. It will be making recommendations to government on any trends
or patterns that are emerging in that space. Interestingly, one of the first
myths to be dispelled is that people do not see motorcyclists in wet weather.
That review shows that the vast majority of motorcycle crashes occurred on
bright, sunny, clear days. That review was one of our initiatives. We have set
up another expert panel to investigate road safety in regional WA. It is
looking at a range of major roads and highways throughout the wheatbelt to see
where these fatalities and serious injuries are occurring. We expect this group
to make a recommendation to the government on whether there is an education
responsibility —
Point of Order
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I note that
once again the minister is not answering the question asked. It was a supplementary
question asking whether she knew what drove the massive increase in critical
injuries in 2014 compared with the previous year. We have had nothing from her
as to what is driving the critical injuries; it is just a random diatribe on
road safety.
The SPEAKER : You made your
point, member. Minister, I think you were coming to that answer. Can you wind
it up, please.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : Mr Speaker, I think I was quite specific. I talked about the
road toll last year. I said that there was a disproportionate representation of
motorcyclists. We are doing something about that. There was a disproportionate
representation of fatalities in the wheatbelt. As a result of the
disproportionate number of fatalities and serious injuries in the wheatbelt, we
are reviewing where those crashes are occurring. We are looking at whether
patches of road need to be improved and whether we need an education campaign.
Some of the crashes involve seatbelts, some involve alcohol and some involve
drug-affected drivers. I have asked the review group to come back to me and
tell me where the trends are so that the government can initiate whatever
policy levers we need and take action to prevent them.
Mr
P.B. Watson interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I call you to order for the first time.
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