Road safety plea

Busselton Police have implored regional drivers to obey road rules ahead of the WA Day long weekend.

Their message coincides with today’s Fatality Free Friday, a campaign by the Australian Road Safety Foundation for there to be no fatalities on the nation’s roads for just one day.

A recent survey held by the foundation found more than half of regional WA parents admitted to breaking road laws or undertaking risky behaviour when their children were in the car.

In addition to this, 44 per cent of regional WA drivers admitted to driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, while one in five admitted to speeding on a regular basis.

ARSF Chief Executive Russell White said these figures were the highest in the country.

On May 17, a 41-year-old woman failed to stop at a random breath test in Dunsborough town centre.

She had three children aged between eight and 16 on board. The driver then attempted to evade police detection and was arrested, eventually providing a breath sample and registering a blood alcohol level of 0.126 grams.

Busselton police Sergeant Jerry Samoa said rural drivers needed to take responsibility for their driving.

“It’s going to be a busy weekend in terms of traffic for the South West so could everyone please take extra care,” he said.