$10m boost for strengthening police presence on regional roads

More than $10 million in State government funding will go towards increasing police presence on regional roads with new booze buses set to enter country Western Asutralia. Two new alcohol and drug testing buses will be deployed in the regions to the tune of $8.6m. The funding will secure both the establishment and operating costs of the extra vehicles. A further $2.1m will be spent on increasing police traffic enforcement including using a high-visibility car livery. Road Safety Minister David Michael said the funding would be able to be rolled out quickly. “While the Cook Government continues to review and consider ideas generated by the recent Road Safety Roundtable, these represent more immediate measures that we can implement to improve safety on regional roads,” he said. “I am pleased that funds from the Road Trauma Trust Account, which pools the fines from speed and red-light camera infringements, can be used in such an effective and targeted way.” An additional $1.8 million has been announced for traffic data gathering to provide information for future speed cameras and road safety treatments. Alongside the immediate funding for road safety initiatives is a $20m fund for the Regional Road Safety Program, bringing total funding to $241.5m over the next four years. Premier Roger Cook called for drivers to step up to reduce the road death toll. “We cannot be complacent when it comes to road safety,” he said. “As part of my government’s immediate response to our recent Road Safety Roundtable, we are committing an additional $32.5 million in funding to initiatives designed to help keep more Western Australians safe on our roads. “We will continue to roll out the latest technology and ideas to improve road safety across WA, and I encourage all drivers to do their bit by driving to the conditions, slowing down, putting on a seatbelt, not driving drunk or tired, and avoiding distractions.”