Nationals WA leader Mia Davies has been described as doing a “stupid” act by police and road safety minister Michelle Roberts in relation to a series of videos made by Ms Davies while she was driving.
The videos uploaded as recently as November 14 show the Central Wheatbelt MP recording messages to her constituents from a car mount.
“I was shocked that she would make a video of that nature while driving on a country road,” Minister Roberts said.
“As a Member of Parliament and Leader of the National Party, representing a regional area, she should be setting an example.
“What she’s doing is encouraging people to think that you can safely make a video while driving on a country road.
“Well you can’t. It is a danger for yourself and it’s a danger to other road users.
“I think it was a very stupid thing to do and there is really no need for it.
“Use social media by all means, but there’s plenty of other entertaining ways to do it without sending a very bad message to the community on distracted driving on a country road.”
As of December 9 there had been 150 deaths on WA roads with 97 road fatalities regional WA.
Ms Davies said she takes road safety very seriously.
“I would never knowingly commit an offence,” she said in a statement.
“If I have done something that is considered an infringement - and I am seeking advice from WA Police on this - then I will accept the consequences accordingly.
“As a Member of Parliament I understand that we must set the best example possible when it comes to behaviour on our roads."
As of December 9 there had been 150 deaths on WA roads with 97 road fatalities regional WA.
Between 2012 and 2016, 146 people died on Wheatbelt roads, the highest for any regional area.
