News
Independent review called for into Main Roads signage policies We need an independent review so we can hear evidence from the community and the transport sector to find out how we can improve road signage and safety on our roads
N
ationals WA Transport spokesperson and North West Central MLAVince Catania has launched a petition supported by Shadow Transport Minister and Vasse MLA Libby Mettam for the State government to have an independent bipartisan committee conduct a review into Main Road signage policies. The concerns stated in the petition are • Ensuring that Main Roads WA policies and procedures regarding road signage are adhered to, no matter how remote the road, • Ensuring that adequate warning is provided leading into road works or any changed road conditions, • Reviewing Main Roads WA procedures for work undertaken by Main Roads WA and its contractors to ensure road signage is safe and adequate, • Recommending changes and amendments to Main Roads WA procedures to ensure safe signage practices particularly in regional areas. The petition, which had more than 3000 signatures, was presented to parliament on August 11th 2020. WA Transport Magazine spoke to Vince Catania who said he was quietly confident, after speaking to the WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti, that an independent bipartisan committee will be formed to conduct a review. A catalyst behind the petition was the tragic incident in the
8
WATM • September 2020
Pilbara in June 2017, which saw the loss of two lives – Mark and Lara Dawson. The couple’s teenage children Jack and Larissa were seated in the back of their vehicle and survived with minor injuries. Pastoralist Kimberley De Pledge was driving a loaded cattle truck on Great Northern Highway and crashed into the back of the couple’s caravan. This sent their four wheel drive onto the other side of the highway into incoming traffic. Mr De Pledge is currently serving an almost four year jail term with Judge Amanda Burrows saying the crash could have been avoided had he maintained a safe distance from the caravan. However, the court heard at the five-day trial into the incident which was held in the South Hedland District Court in 2017, that some of the speed signs warning of the reduced speed limit were lying flat on the road at the time of the incident. Many believe that inadequate road signage was the major contributing factor to the accident including Mr De Pledge’s father Joe who told Farm Weekly, “Had those speed signs been fixed in place and there been more adequate road signage we believe those two lives may not have been lost and my own son wouldn't be living with his own life sentence." The petition is also supported by Lara Jensen, whose brother, Christian and his two passengers Jessica-Lea Broad and Hilary Smith, died when his vehicle collided with a grain freight train at a railway level crossing near Jennacubbine 20 years ago. There was a fatality at the same crossing three years previously and a road safety audit concluded then that the signage did not meet the requirements of Australian standards,” said Ms Jensen. Mr Catania said, "We need an independent review so we can hear evidence from the community and the transport sector to find out how we can improve road signage and safety on our roads, particularly road works on regional roads. Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said while Main Roads was the statutory body responsible for investigating if the road environment contributed to the cause and severity of crashes, WA Police was the statutory body responsible for investigating fatal crashes on the roads network. “In relation to the Pilbara crash, the guidelines for signage for roadworks were strengthened, particularly in relation to the permanency of signs and how those signs are stabilised in windy conditions,” Ms Saffioti said. However, as evidenced by the petition there is still concern that the signage polices and procedures are not being adhered to. The petition is still open and can be found at: www.nationalswa.com/petitions
