Drivers continue to flout road rules

Motorists are snubbing police warnings and campaigns as more people in Broome are collared for not belting-up or wearing helmets, and drink-driving.

Latest traffic enforcement figures obtained by theBroome Advertiser show that 35 per cent of restraint offences and 25 per cent of drink-driving offences detected by regional WA police in 2016 were in the Kimberley.

The number of drink-drivers in Broome has increased from 253 in 2014-15 to 286 this financial year, but 4738 more breath tests were conducted.

Kimberley-wide the number had dropped slightly from 951 to 909.

Over the same period in Broome, seatbelt/helmet offences jumped from 255 to 348 and to 1279 across the district.

Speeding offences have gone from 1103 in Broome to 1193 while they have dropped slightly in the Kimberley from 2293 to 2186.

Driver drug tests went from 88 in Broome and the Kimberley in 2014-15 to 1000 and 1420 respectively.

As a result, positive drugs readings went from five in both areas to 21 in Broome and 27 in the Kimberley.

Drug testing was introduced into regional WA in early 2015 as increased numbers of officers were trained in the procedure.

Kimberley district traffic co-ordinator Sergeant Steve Kent said the increasing trend of drivers under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol was a concern.

“The figures show the hard work that the Kimberley and Broome police do to keep you safe on our roads but there is a worrying indication that drivers are still not wearing restraints and continue to drink-drive,” he said.

Kimberley District Superintendent Allan Adams said enforcement effort had to be coupled with continuous commitment to educating and informing drivers.

“We know we have remote communities where driver education is difficult to consistently rollout but working with entities like the Road Safety Commission and Goolari Media, we think we can make some good inroads around driver awareness of their responsibilities in the medium to long term.”