A major Perth highway has been deemed one of the most dangerous in the state, as the number of fatalities on roads across Western Australia continues to increase.
Reid Highway received a risk score of 92.60 according to CrashDash, an online interactive data map, with four serious crashes and 79 minor crashes recorded between January 2021 and December 2023 – the latest information available.
More recently, in January 2026, a man died and three others, including a child, were rushed to hospital following a horrific crash along the highway.
The data from CrashDash shows that WA recorded 22,345 crashes in total, or more than 20 per day, across the three-year timeframe.
Of those, 17,997 were minor where at worst someone received medical attention at the scene, 4001 were categorised as serious with one or more people involved needing hospital treatment, and 451 were fatal.
Across the state, cars were involved in the majority of incidents, at 95 per cent, followed by 8 per cent which involved a motorcycle, 5 per cent with a bike and 4 per cent with pedestrians.
The intersection of the Great Eastern Bypass and Roe Highway stood out as a problematic area, with one fatal, two serious and 21 minor crashes recorded in the one location.
And the intersection of the Great Eastern Highway and Old Northam Road recorded two fatalities.
Follow this link to view street-level crash data for Western Australia.
CrashDash creator Anthony Aisenberg said the risk score for each location was based on the number and severity of crashes recorded there, with fatal crashes given the highest weighting.
The findings are based on analysis of publicly available state government crash data that groups together all the traffic incidents that occurred within a 100-metre radius of each location.
“While crash data is open, it is not visible and it is pretty tricky to gain access to,” Aisenberg said.
“Each state has its own website, and often data expertise and geospatial software experience is necessary.”
He said the website presented the data in a way that allowed people to view street-level data on crashes throughout Australia, showing detailed data on the time of day of crashes, the reasons behind them, and the types of road users involved.
WA has recorded 64 fatalities to April 27, 2026, compared with 55, 48 and 49 fatalities respectively between 2021 and 2023 over the same time frame.
RAC head of communications Rhys Heron said road trauma continued to be a major issue in WA, with “far too many people losing their lives or being seriously injured on our roads”.
“Last year, the Perth metropolitan area recorded its highest level of road deaths in a decade, and so far this year the metro area is tracking worse again,” he said.
“The way roads are designed, built and maintained plays a major role in road safety, as do the safety features of the vehicles we use, and the individual actions of all road users.
“Continued government investment in safer infrastructure is critical.
“Every West Australian can also make an immediate difference by slowing down, ditching distractions, and not driving or riding when tired or under the influence.”
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Holly Thompson is a journalist with WAtoday, specialising in education and the environment.Connect via X or email.