Latest news with #PoliceandRoadSafety
Perth Now
06-08-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
Why police cadets could soon be walking Perth kids to school
Police cadets may be deployed to help children get to school in one piece as parents continue to plead for action to make streets safer. Cadets were raised as a possible solution to a traffic warden shortage during a recent meeting between Police and Road Safety Minister Reece Whitby and local and State government representatives. City of Canning mayor Patrick Hall, CEO Michael Littleton, Riverton MLA Jags Krishnan, Cannington MLA Ron Sao and Jandakot MLA Stephen Pratt met Mr Whitby at Dumas House late last month to discuss road safety concerns. Mr Hall said in a Facebook post it was a 'really insightful discussion' about innovative solutions to man high-volume roads permanently. He suggested using police cadets to address shortages at high-risk locations, which he said had been flagged for discussion. Mr Hall, who was a cadet himself, said they would be an ideal last-minute replacement if a warden was unavailable, and better than having crossings unmanned. Willetton Senior High School principal Trevor Hunter (left) with City of Canning mayor Patrick Hall last year. Credit: Ross Swanborough / The West Australian The WA Police Cadets program is open to teenagers aged between 17 and 19. It is described as an introduction to a career in policing under the guidance of experienced officers. The city's meeting with Mr Whitby was held the day after Canning councillors again heard of concerns for the safety of young students crossing busy roads. A 26-signature petition calling for a traffic warden or new set of traffic lights at the intersection of Burrendah Boulevard and Vahland Avenue was presented at the council's July 29 meeting. It said hundreds of Burrendah Primary School and Willetton Senior High School students crossed the dangerous intersection. Willetton resident Wei Loong Yew told the meeting during peak hours Vahland Avenue became 'almost like a highway'. 'Vahland Avenue on that corner of Burrendah Boulevard is three lanes wide and on the other side heading north is two lanes wide,' he said. 'We're asking a lot of primary kids to cross five lanes of traffic, and these cars are travelling at 60km/h both ways and the volume increases dramatically in the morning and in the evening.' Mr Yew, whose children attend Burrendah Primary School, said he had lived in the area for 10 years and had seen 'quite a few' crashes at the intersection. 'One of which at 3am, a young gentleman was travelling south on Vahland Avenue way too quickly and couldn't negotiate that bend,' he said. 'If there was a traffic light there, he could have avoided that accident. And luckily, he was alive. He walked away unscathed.' Mr Yew said he did not believe adding a new set of lights would add to traffic congestion. He thanked the council for reducing the speed limit on Pinetree Gully Road and Burrendah Boulevard from 50km/h to 40km/h, and on Vahland Avenue from 70km/h to 60km/h. Mr Hall said at the council meeting the city was 'working really hard' to improve student safety. It is planning to carry out road safety inspections at areas with a high crash pattern and assess intersections classed as a high risk for crashes. It will also advocate for Black Spot and road improvement projects and work on providing new path links as part of its Walking and Cycling Plan. A pedestrian safety review of Pinetree Gully Road and Burrendah Boulevard by PJ Consulting and Surveytech earlier this year found there had been 34 reported crashes in the area between 2019 and 2023. Last year a 12-year-old student was struck by a car while crossing Pinetree Gully Road outside Willetton Senior High School. The meeting with Mr Whitby also discussed the delay in providing road line markings at new intersections and that local governments could do it faster than the Government; CCTV and home security initiatives; and crime in the Canning city centre and Westfield Carousel precinct and how to address it.
Perth Now
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
Big new electric scooter review underway
The WA government will launch a statewide investigation into the safety of electric bikes and scooters in response to growing community concern. The government will set up a bipartisan Parliamentary Committee to find ways to strengthen the safety and regulation of the 'e-rideables'. The state has had four fatalities involving e-rideables since the start of the year, including that of Perth dad Thahn Phan, who was allegedly hit by a British tourist last week on a rented e-scooter. The rules around hired e-bikes will be examined. Newswire /Gaye Gerard Credit: News Corp Australia Following that incident the state government said that it needed to do more. 'We have very strict regulations about the speed of e-scooters,' said Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti. 'But it's obvious we need to do more on compliance.' she said. The committee is set to investigate the expansion of penalties, how the vehicles are rented, how they are used in congested areas and how technology like speed limiting can be used to make them safer. Announcing the new committee, Police and Road Safety Minister Reece Whitby said the government wanted to do 'as much as possible' to keep everyone safe from e-rideables. 'I've become increasingly concerned about safety issues around e-rideables and e-scooters and I'm particularly concerned about the safety and the vulnerability of pedestrians as well as those people who ride these devices,' Mr Whitby said. 'And I think there's a growing community concern also.' Police and Road Safety Minister Reece Whitby announced the Parliamentary Committee. Supplied Credit: Supplied Other measures to be considered by the committee are night-time curfews and the use of e-bikes and e-scooters in entertainment districts. Asked by reporters on Saturday morning, Mr Whitby said a ban of the vehicles on footpaths would 'absolutely' be considered. Mr Whitby said it was important that the state had a bipartisan approach to the reforms, acknowledging that he wanted the community to work together. The committee will deliver its report in September and Mr Whitby said in the meantime the police would need to maintain 'vigilance' in their enforcement. E-bikes have come under fire nationally in recent months as fatalities continue to mount.
The Age
14-06-2025
- The Age
Government launches e-scooter investigation after death of Perth dad
A parliamentary committee will be tasked with examining e-scooter rules and regulations as the government pledges to do more to keep the community safe following the death of a beloved Perth dad two weeks ago. Police and Road Safety minister Reece Whitby launched news of the inquiry on Saturday, saying the committee would be considering restrictions such as nighttime curfews in entertainment precincts and other highly populated pedestrian areas. The move comes after community outrage following the death of engineer Thanh Phan who was waiting to cross a road just after 8.30pm on May 31 when he was allegedly hit from behind by British backpacker Alicia Kemp. Phan fell forward hitting his head on the road, a Perth court said. He died from his injuries three days later. Kemp, a 24-year-old psychology and criminology graduate, had allegedly been out drinking with a friend when the pair hired an e-scooter from Perth's CBD. She was allegedly caught on CCTV riding dangerously on footpaths at speed before the collision. She has been charged with dangerous driving occasioning bodily harm and dangerous driving occasioning death and remanded in custody. Phan's family spoke publicly about wanting a review of the safety regulations surrounding e-scooter hire as a result of the tragedy. Last weekend, WA Police launched a crack-down on e-scooter use, adopting an 'education through enforcement approach'.
Sydney Morning Herald
14-06-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
Government launches e-scooter investigation after death of Perth dad
A parliamentary committee will be tasked with examining e-scooter rules and regulations as the government pledges to do more to keep the community safe following the death of a beloved Perth dad two weeks ago. Police and Road Safety minister Reece Whitby launched news of the inquiry on Saturday, saying the committee would be considering restrictions such as nighttime curfews in entertainment precincts and other highly populated pedestrian areas. The move comes after community outrage following the death of engineer Thanh Phan who was waiting to cross a road just after 8.30pm on May 31 when he was allegedly hit from behind by British backpacker Alicia Kemp. Phan fell forward hitting his head on the road, a Perth court said. He died from his injuries three days later. Kemp, a 24-year-old psychology and criminology graduate, had allegedly been out drinking with a friend when the pair hired an e-scooter from Perth's CBD. She was allegedly caught on CCTV riding dangerously on footpaths at speed before the collision. She has been charged with dangerous driving occasioning bodily harm and dangerous driving occasioning death and remanded in custody. Phan's family spoke publicly about wanting a review of the safety regulations surrounding e-scooter hire as a result of the tragedy. Last weekend, WA Police launched a crack-down on e-scooter use, adopting an 'education through enforcement approach'.
