A stretch of the South Western Highway between Manjimup and Walpole has been named among the most risky in regional WA, according to peak motoring body the RAC.
The organisation has released the results from its most recent Risky Roads survey, which asked the community to identify the most dangerous roads across regional and metropolitan WA.
More than 6000 nominations were received.
Reasons for that stretch of road’s nomination included crumbling road edges, its narrowness, a lack of overtaking opportunities and poor road marking.
The Bussell Highway, Capel made the WA and regional top ten.
RAC General Manager Corporate Affairs Will Golsby said the survey results highlighted an urgent need for all major parties to commit to addressing the community’s concerns by increasing road funding ahead of the March 11 State Election.
“Western Australia has an $845 million road maintenance backlog and also has one of the worst road fatality rates in the country,” he said.
“Last year, 194 Western Australians died on our roads, with many more seriously injured.
“This was our worst year in eight years. Our road fatality rate has gone from being one of the best in the country to one of the worst, with the effects of road trauma estimated to cost WA $6.6 billion each year.
“As we head in to a State Election, RAC is calling on the next State Government to address WA’s poor road safety record by reducing the road maintenance backlog by at least 30 per cent over the next four years.
“We are also calling for the funds in the Road Trauma Trust Account, which was last reported to have $95 million unspent, to be allocated to road safety projects across the state.
“Western Australians who would also like to see these issues addressed can take action by visiting rac.com.au/givemetime and emailing their local candidates ahead of the State Election.”
Mr Golsby said the RAC Risky Roads campaign encouraged community members to voice their concerns about dangerous regional roads and intersections, to lobby relevant authorities to get them fixed and ultimately try to save lives.
“Since the 2014 Risky Roads campaign, eight of the top 10 roads and six of the top 10 intersections have had work planned, committed, started or completed, showing a willingness from local and state authorities to address community concerns,” he said.