3808 [COUNCIL]
(1) In what year was the open road speed limit introduced in Western Australia? (2) For the two years immediately prior to the introduction of open road speed limits - (a) what were the number of road fatalities; (b) what were the number of non-fatal accidents; and (c) what was the estimated vehicle kilometres travelled? (3) For the two years immediately following the introduction of open road speed limits - (a) what were the number of road fatalities; (b) what were the number of non-fatal accidents; and (c) what was the estimated vehicle kilometres travelled? Hon PETER FOSS replied: (1) December 1967. (2) (a) 1966 253 1967 256 (b) 1966 30 271 1967 33 699 (c) 1966 4.77 billion 1967 5.20 billion (3) (a) 1968 320 1969 311 (b) 1968 36 570 1969 * not comparable due to change in reporting mechanism (c) 1968 5.63 billion 1969 6.49 billion Prior to December 1967, there was no maximum speed limit on roads that were not subject to a speed limit. After that date, a maximum speed limit of 110 kilometres per hour was introduced on all roads not subject to a lower limit. ROADS - KWINANA AND MITCHELL FREEWAYS Speed Limits - Statistics 273. Hon M.D. NIXON to the Attorney General representing the Minister for Police: In respect of each of the Kwinana and Mitchell Freeways - (1) In what year was the speed limit on Kwinana/Mitchell Freeways raised from 80km per hour to 100km per hour? (2) For the two years immediately before the speed limit increase from 80km per hour to 100km per hour - (a) what were the number of road fatalities; (b) what were the number of non-fatal accidents; and (c) what was the estimated vehicle kilometres travelled?
(3) For the two years immediately following the speed limit increase from 80km per hour to 100km per hour - (a) what were the number of road fatalities; (b) what were the number of non-fatal accidents; and (c) what was the estimated vehicle kilometres travelled?
Hon PETER FOSS replied: I thank the honourable member for providing some notice in respect of this question. I preface my response by saying that the information being provided relates only to the length of the Kwinana and Mitchell Freeways as they were for the period two years prior to the increase in the speed limit in August 1987. As the member would be aware, both Freeways have been increased considerably in length since 1985 and a comparison of crashes at that time with crashes on the longer routes existing in 1996 (two years after the last increase in the speed limit) would not be valid. [Wednesday, 11 June 1997] 3809
(1) 80 km per hour to 90 km per hour in August 1987. 90 km per hour to 100 km per hour in March 1994. (2) (a) Two years prior to 80 km per hour to 90 km per hour change. Kwinana Freeway Nil Mitchell Freeway Nil Two years prior to 90 km per hour to 100 km per hour change. Kwinana Freeway Two Mitchell Freeway One (b) Two years prior to 80 km per hour to 90 km per hour change. Kwinana Freeway 572 Mitchell Freeway 520 Two years prior to 90 km per hour to 100 km per hour change. Kwinana Freeway 706 Mitchell Freeway 617 (c) Two years prior to 80 km per hour to 90 km per hour change. Kwinana Freeway 577 million Mitchell Freeway 616 million Two years prior to 90 km per hour to 100 km per hour change. Kwinana Freeway 769 million Mitchell Freeway 856 million (3) (a) Two years following the 80 km per hour to 90 km per hour change. Kwinana Freeway Two Mitchell Freeway Nil Two years following the 90 km per hour to 100 per hour change. Kwinana Freeway Three Mitchell Freeway Two (b) Two years following the 80 km per hour to 90 km per hour change. Kwinana Freeway 799 Mitchell Freeway 745 Two years following the 90 km per hour to 100 km per hour change. Kwinana Freeway 1 079 Mitchell Freeway 669 (c) Two years following the 80 km per hour to 90 km per hour change. Kwinana Freeway 646 million Mitchell Freeway 683 million Two years following the 90 km per hour to 100 km per hour change. Kwinana Freeway 814 million (estimated) Mitchell Freeway 906 million (estimated) MOTOR VEHICLES - AIRCONDITIONING Flammable Gas 282. Hon GEORGE CASH to the Minister for Mines: (1) Was a meeting held at the Department of Minerals and Energy, Minerals House, Perth on Monday, December 4, 1995, for the purpose of coordinating Government response to requests by the motor vehicle industry to ban the use of flammable gases as refrigerants in vehicle airconditioning systems? (2) What specific resolutions were agreed upon at the meeting? (3) Who attended the meeting and which Government departments were represented? Hon N.F. MOORE replied: (1) Yes. (2) Resolution 1 - There was sufficient concern for the safety of persons to warrant the introduction of a ban on use of flammable gases as refrigerants in vehicle air conditioning systems and that such a ban should remain in place until such time as this use could be demonstrated safe.