The research found:
- Although it is known that road injury and fatality rates are high for Aboriginal people living in regional and remote areas of Western Australia, there is very little data and published literature available to support a reliable evidence base.
- Risk factors associated with these high road trauma rates include poor roads and roadsides, unsafe and overcrowded vehicles, speed, and risk-taking behaviours.
- People living in regional and remote areas are particularly concerned about poor roads, cattle on road and drink driving and feel as though nothing is being done to address these issues.
- There are several programs and initiatives in place that require evaluation to ensure effectiveness
- All new road safety programs and campaigns must be developed in collaboration with the local community to ensure they are culturally appropriate.
- There are close links between social determinants and road safety outcomes and a public health approach involving collaboration across Government agencies is needed to address road safety in regional and remote areas.
Road safety benefit:
The research was beneficial to the extent that Government received a report that gave an overview of Aboriginal road safety and made several recommendations to support the improvement of road safety outcomes for Aboriginal people living in regional and remote Western Australia.
