Bringing rational science to the urgent challenge of road safety in Western Australia
Dr Brian Walker advocates for a comprehensive approach to road safety, calling for increased police resources and fair, scientifically backed testing for all forms of driver impairment on Western Australian roads.
A matter of public safety
In my years as a GP, I have seen the devastating results of avoidable trauma. When we talk about road safety, we are not just discussing statistics or traffic fines. We are talking about the safety of your family, your neighbours, and every person sharing the tarmac. The current approach to impairment is messy, inconsistent, and often fails to address the reality of how drugs—all drugs—actually affect a driver. If we are serious about keeping our roads safe, we must move beyond outdated policies and embrace a system that treats every form of impairment with the same professional rigor.
The need for a smarter approach
Today, I moved a motion in the House to demand better. We need more police presence on our roads, and we need the funding to support true, comprehensive testing. Right now, there is a tangible anxiety for many drivers who fear being penalised for medications that have no bearing on their ability to operate a vehicle safely. This is not just bureaucratic bungling; it is a system that misdirects resources away from those who are truly impaired. We deserve a model that identifies actual impairment, not one that relies on arbitrary testing that ignores the nuance of modern medicine.
If you appreciate hearing the truth from the floor of the Legislative Council, I invite you to subscribe to my YouTube channel to stay updated on our progress toward evidence-based change.
Prioritising evidence over politics
The status quo is failing because it is built on politics rather than pharmacology. Our streets should not be governed by prejudice, but by clear science. My motion, which you can read in the official Hansard record, seeks to ensure that every driver is unimpaired, regardless of whether they have consumed a prescription medication or other substance. We are the forward-thinkers. We are the ones who look at the data and see where the system is breaking down. It is time the government listened to the evidence instead of protecting the bureaucracy.
Ignoring this reality comes at a human cost that I, as a doctor, refuse to tolerate. We have the capability to implement better testing, but we lack the political will. My colleagues and I in the House will keep pushing for the common sense outcomes that our community expects. If you believe we should be building a road safety framework rooted in facts and compassion, I encourage you to join Legalise Cannabis WA today. Together, we can drive the change that WA desperately needs.
