‘Heartbreaking milestone’: WA’s road toll overtakes 2025 figure in horror 48 hours
Five people have died on West Australian roads over the past two days, bringing the state’s road toll to 186 for the year – surpassing the 184 people who lost their lives in 2025.
Three people – a 23-year-old man, a 22-year-old woman and a 21-year-old man – all lost their lives on Friday morning, after the car they were driving, along Yilliminning Road towards Narrogin, left the road and collided with trees.
On Friday evening, a 35-year-old man died when his Kawasaki motorcycle collided with a Triumph motorcycle along Mandurah Road in Dudley Park.
The rider of the Triumph motorcycle sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
And a 41-year-old man died on Saturday night in Mumballup, south-east of Bunbury, after his car left the road and struck at tree.
All five were declared deceased at the scene of the crashes. The majority were in regional areas.
Shadow Minister for Road Safety Julie Freeman said it was a “heartbreaking milestone that no Western Australian wanted to see”.
“My thoughts are with the families, friends and communities grieving these devastating losses, particularly in Narrogin where three young lives were taken far too soon,” she said.
“Every road death is one too many, but the fact we’ve already surpassed last year’s toll with weeks still to come should be setting off alarm bells.”
Back in July, head of communications at insurer RAC Rhys Heron warned that “if we keep going the way we’re going, we will likely see more than 200 people killed on our roads for the first time in 18 years.”
And a WA Road Safety Commission spokesperson said the issue was complex, challenging, constantly changing, “and it requires a unified community-driven approach to reduce fatalities”.
Freeman said regional communities continue to carry a disproportionate share of the road toll, highlighting the urgent need for greater investment in practical road safety improvements.
“For years we’ve seen the same tragic patterns repeated on regional roads, yet too many high-risk stretches remain without the safety upgrades proven to save lives,” she said.
“Money collected through the Road Trauma Trust Account should be directed towards delivering safer regional roads through shoulder sealing, audible edge lines, overtaking lanes and other evidence-based improvements, not diverted into government administration.
“We cannot accept rising road deaths as inevitable.”
The government has previously stated it is tipping millions of dollars into regional point-to-point speed cameras over the coming years, alongside an investment in school zone speed enforcement and a plan to double the number of safety camera trailers on WA roads.
Freeman urged motorists travelling in the lead-up to Christmas to drive to the conditions, avoid fatigue and make safety their priority.
If you or anyone you know has been affected by a road crash, contact Road Trauma Support WA on 1300 004 814.
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