A new survey by the Royal Automobile Club of Western Australia (RAC or RAC WA) has highlighted prevalent unsafe driving behaviours on WA roads, with tailgating and poor merging identified as major concerns.
The findings come as RAC continues to call for improved road safety measures, particularly in regional areas where road trauma has been a persistent issue.
The survey identified five key risky driving behaviours:
Eighty-seven per cent of respondents said they had been tailgated in the past 12 months, while 50% noted that many drivers fail to merge correctly.
Additionally, 69% experienced rude gestures from other motorists, 40% reported being verbally confronted, and one in three had a near-miss due to road rage.
Will Golsby, RAC WA’s general manager of external relations, emphasised that these behaviours are contributing to preventable road accidents and stressed the need for drivers to take responsibility for improving safety.
“Everyone gets frustrated on the roads at times, but keeping calm behind the wheel is one of the most important ways to prevent the unnecessary crashes that occur every day,” he said.
He noted that tailgating, in particular, increases the risk of serious incidents, turning major frustrations into dangerous situations.
The survey results align with RAC’s broader push for enhanced road safety measures, particularly in regional WA, where fatal accidents have remained high despite improvements elsewhere in the state.
Golsby reiterated that both infrastructure and driver behaviour play crucial roles in road safety, particularly in rural areas where long travel distances, higher speeds, and challenging conditions are common.
“The level of road trauma that occurs in Western Australia is unacceptable. We all share a responsibility to make our roads safe,” he said.
RAC has long advocated for improvements to regional road infrastructure, with particular focus on hazardous routes like the Great Northern Highway.
The organisation welcomed recent government funding for road upgrades but continues to call for further investment.
Golsby said drivers must also do their part by adopting safer driving habits, such as correct merging techniques and using indicators.
“Correct merging technique, such as indicating your intentions, ensures other drivers are aware of your movements and allows for a smoother flow of traffic,” he said.
With WA potentially facing one of the worst years for road trauma in over a decade, RAC said it is critical that both individuals and authorities remain focused on making our roads safer.
