A landmark trial could soon see speed limits reduced on more than 1800 roads across Western Australia’s South West in a bid to cut the state’s growing road toll. The proposed Safer Speeds Trial—developed by the Shire of Augusta Margaret River and the City of Busselton in partnership with the RAC—aims to test the effectiveness of lowering speed limits in both urban and regional settings.
Dylan Anderson
Key Speed Limit Proposals
If approved, the trial would affect around 550 roads in Augusta Margaret River and 1250 in Busselton, with implementation potentially beginning in early 2025. The proposed changes include:
- Rural sealed roads west of Bussell Highway (currently 80–110km/h): reduced to 70–80km/h.
- Urban major roads through towns (e.g. Bussell Highway in Busselton, Bayview Drive into Gracetown): dropped from 60–70km/h to 50–60km/h.
- Residential roads in peri-urban areas (e.g. Quedjinup, Margaret River–Prevelly area): reduced from 70km/h or default 110km/h to 60km/h.
- Town centres and residential streets (e.g. Busselton, Augusta): reduced to 40km/h where currently signed at 40–50km/h.
The Case for Change
Between 2019 and 2023, 136 people were killed or seriously injured on roads in Busselton, and 59 in Augusta Margaret River. Advocates argue that slower speeds could reduce these numbers. Public comment on the trial closed on November 4, 2024, and local councils are expected to vote in December.
RAC President Allan Blagaich stressed the importance of speed reduction in achieving road safety goals:
“Speed is the single element of road safety that gives us a chance to save as many lives as possible,” he wrote in an opinion piece.
Dylan Anderson
Statewide Road Safety Efforts
WA is currently the only state with a default 110km/h speed limit, and more than 60% of the state’s road fatalities occur in regional areas. Since 2020, the state government has invested over $1 billion in the Regional Road Safety Program, upgrading approximately 10,000km of roads.
In addition, the RAC and WA Local Government Association (WALGA) have proposed a new $552 million High Speed Local Country Roads Program, focused on improving 8200km of country roads. While the WA Nationals have pledged $276 million towards this if elected in 2025, the WA Labor government has already allocated $20 million to extend its existing safety program.
A broader $1.38 billion funding agreement between WA Labor and WALGA, signed in 2023, supports local governments in further road improvement efforts.
Government Position on Speed Reductions
While the WA Government supports the trial in principle and Main Roads WA has backed the proposal, officials remain cautious:
“Changes must be practical, enforceable, and backed by hard evidence,” a government spokesperson said.
The state acknowledged enforcement challenges in remote regions and noted that some roads in the trial area are rarely used, making traditional policing difficult.
The Road Safety Council will consider funding requests once the trial is approved, and further reviews of default speed limits across WA are underway.
For more details, visit your local council or road safety authority websites.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. For official updates, refer to your local council or state government sources.
Dylan Anderson
Dylan Anderson
