- Fleet of new BMW X5's added to WA Police road policing fleet as part of commitment to world-class, modern responsive policing for the community
- Comes ahead of Easter long weekend double demerit period starting tonight
- WA drivers urged take time to plan ahead for a safe Easter long weekend road trip
The Cook Government has unveiled the next generation of Western Australia Police vehicles which will hit the road ahead of the Easter long weekend double demerit period.
The vehicles will deliver a significant boost to frontline capability, increasing police capacity to respond quickly and safely to emergencies across both metropolitan and regional areas.
The enhanced visibility and advanced technology incorporated into the fleet will support officers in keeping Western Australian roads safer.
Four classone patrol vehicles will be deployed to the Highway Patrol for extended regional highway patrols, with an additional three destined for the Road Policing Group in the metropolitan area.
Easter is traditionally a challenging period for road safety in Western Australia with thousands of holiday makers taking to the roads.
Tragically, five people lost their lives during the Easter double demerit period last year, and six the year before.
Since 1 January, 25 people in motor vehicles, 14 motorcyclists and six pedestrians have lost their lives in fatal road crashes.
Of those, 27 deaths have been on regional roads.
The fatal five - speeding, seatbelts, fatigue, distraction and drugs and alcohol - are preventable causes of road trauma.
Double demerits will apply to infringements over the Easter long weekend from Thursday, 2 April to Monday, 6 April.
As stated by Police and Road Safety Minister Reece Whitby:
"These new police vehicles will significantly strengthen frontline policing capability giving WA Police faster, safer and more versatile cars to respond to incidents and protect our community.
"By investing in modern, high-performance vehicles, we are ensuring our officers have the tools they need to respond quickly and effectively to keep our community safe.
"As we approach the Easter long weekend and school holidays, I want to remind all road users, to keep yourself and others safe on the road.
"Incorrectly worn seatbelts, distractions from mobile phones, speeding, fatigue, and drugs and alcohol are all preventable causes of fatal crashes.
"I urge all Western Australians this Easter and school holidays, to stop and think about what they can do to make every journey safe."
As stated by Road Policing Commander Mike Peters:
"For Police, the BMW X5 is a fit-for-purpose tool that meets the operational and safety demands of modern policing.
"Our officers spend extended periods patrolling the community and it's important that they have a safe, reliable and comfortable workplace that allows them to remain focused and effective.
"Expect to see these vehicles more frequently on our roads as they are deployed across a range of frontline duties."
