Christmas traffic blitz: New Shadows of Summer road safety campaign launched

The 162 people who have died on West Australian roads this year will be commemorated in a powerful new safety campaign, launched days before the Christmas double-demerits period begins.

WA police are about to begin a State-wide traffic blitz, ramping up patrols, drug and alcohol testing, and mobile camera units.

From December 24 to January 9, drivers who break the rules will be slugged with double demerits.

But obeying road regulations shouldn’t merely be about “avoiding fines”, Road Safety Minister Paul Papalia said.

“There’ll be police out on the roads enforcing the rules, will have every asset available to ensure that if you are breaking the law, you’re very likely to get caught,” he said.

“But the primary message today is to consider the consequences. If you drive dangerously, if you speed, if you drive under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, and potentially if you drive tired, you can end up one of these shadows on the ground and your families will feel the loss for the rest of their lives.”

Mr Papalia launched the new “Shadows of Summer” campaign. As part of the initiative, silhouettes representing each 2021 fatality will be plastered on prominent walkways throughout the state. The age and gender of the person who died will be shown.

Initial installations will be placed in Fremantle, Perth, Northam, Geraldton, and Mandurah.

Road Safety Commissioner Adrian Warner said that each shadow represented a “hole that will never be filled.”

“We call this the silly season and there’s a reason for that, people get into party mode,” he said.

“That leads to risky behaviour... I want the season to be silly but when you get behind the wheel of a car or jump on a motorbike don’t you be the silly one.

“Don’t you be the one that’s missed this Christmas.”