Safe System Review for the South Perth Activity Centre
Improving Safety Outcomes For All South Perth Road Users
RoadLogic recently completed a Safe System Review (SSR) for the South Perth Activity Centre (see image above). The purpose of the SSR was to examine how the existing road environment performs from a serious injury crash prevention perspective.
The need for this review is due to the study area experiencing significant growth from development and redevelopment, while still operating as a vehicle-focused corridor.
There has been a shift towards a more pedestrian-oriented centre. This has increased demand for crossings across arterial roads, creating user conflict and additional pressure on the network.
What Did The Safe System Review Include?
The review focused on the key connections (corridors) between the Activity Centre and the surrounding road network. These corridors support a mix of traffic movements including:
- commuter vehicles,
- public transport services,
- pedestrians and
- significant numbers of cyclists
travelling between the South Perth foreshore, the Perth CBD and surrounding suburbs.
Given this is a complex mix of road users, the Review aimed to identify opportunities to better align the road network with Safe System Principles, ensuring that the transport system is more forgiving when mistakes occur.
Applying the Safe System Principles Approach
The Safe System Principles approach recognises that people make mistakes on the road network. Therefore the objective is to design the road system so that those mistakes do not result in death or serious injury.
Safe System Principles thinking considers the interaction between several elements of the transport system, including:
A Safe System Review focuses primarily on road infrastructure and operating speeds, identifying locations where the current environment may expose road users to higher levels of crash risk.
In activity centres such as South Perth, this is particularly important because roads must safely accommodate a wide variety of users, including pedestrians, cyclists and the increasing number of people using e-mobility devices.
Challenges Within South Perth Activity Centre
RoadLogic’s review identified several challenges that influence road safety outcomes within the Activity Centre.
The first challenge is that this Activity Centre sits between two major arterial routes that connect directly to the State operated freeway network. These roads carry substantial traffic volumes and act as key gateways to Perth’s Central Business District.
The second challenge is that the area is heavily utilised by vulnerable road users, including commuter cyclists, residents accessing local shops and services as well as visitors of all ages walking to and from Perth Zoo via the public transport bus and ferry networks.
Identifying Opportunities for Improvement
As part of the review process, RoadLogic examined a range of infrastructure and network improvements that could enhance alignment with Safe System Principles.
These potential treatments include:
1. Improvements to cycling connectivity
2. Safer crossing opportunities for pedestrians and riders and
3. Design changes that help manage vehicle speeds in areas where vulnerable road users are present.
Many of these initiatives form part of a broader long-term strategy for improving safety and accessibility within the Activity Centre.
Safe System Reviews = Safer Communities
Safe System Reviews provide valuable insights during the planning and design of road projects in metropolitan and regional areas. By identifying high-risk road conditions early, Government can develop infrastructure solutions that better protect road users and support safer travel outcomes for the community.
RoadLogic works with local governments, developers and infrastructure planners across Western Australia to apply Safe System Principles in projects, helping create road environments that are safer, more accessible and better suited to the needs of growing communities.
If you would like expert advice on Safe System Reviews, Road Safety Audits or Traffic Engineering assessments, contact RoadLogic to discuss how we can assist with your project.
