Automated traffic control devices will now be used on all highways, main roads and high volume, high speed local roads as part of measures aimed at protecting traffic control wardens on Western Australian roads.
Portable traffic control devices allow traffic controllers to carry out their duties in a safe environment by removing them from the roadside where possible.
The change is one of the recommendations from the Regional Roadworks Signage Review, which is aimed at improving the safety of road workers and road users in and around regional areas.
The Regional Roadworks Signage Review included 13 recommendations, underpinned by 21 actions to improve safety on WA roads.
So far, the WA Government has delivered seven actions from the report, including the implementation of portable traffic control devices.
Traffic controllers providing temporary traffic management are critical to managing the safe passage of vehicles through road work sites. Traffic control workers put their lives at risk every day to keep others safe.
Since 2013, there have been five road workers killed in WA, which included two traffic controllers.
It is intended to have portable traffic control devices as the preferred method of traffic control on all roads in WA by early 2023.
The changes will include exceptions for low-risk scenarios, to allow for site set up and pack up and for emergency and incident management.
Main Roads will continue to work closely with the Traffic Management Association of Australia to raise public awareness of the impact of incidents on roadwork sites.
For more information on Main Roads' Traffic Management for Works on Roads Code of Practice please visit traffic-management-for-works-on-roads-code-of-practice.pdf (mainroads.wa.gov.au)
As stated by Transport Minister Rita Saffioti:
"We currently have around $9 billion worth of road infrastructure projects in the pipeline across Western Australia, and one of my top priorities is looking at ways we can continue to improve the safety of both road traffic workers and road users around roadworks.
"This change was one of a number of recommendations from our Regional Roadworks Signage Review, which is aimed at improving safety around roadworks in regional WA.
"Traffic controllers are essential to delivering road projects, and sadly we have seen a number of incidents in recent years where workers have been killed. Allowing them to continue delivering their work in a safe environment will be a critical change."
