Days after criticising a fellow member of Parliament for recording a video while driving, it has been revealed that Road Safety Minister Michelle Roberts authorised a Road Safety Commission ad showing a TV personality doing a similar act.
The ‘Not on my road’ campaign, running from October to December 2018, was devised by the Road Safety Commission, which is a portfolio within WA Police and reports to Mrs Roberts.
One of the ads includes a video of a TV personality discussing fatigue to a camera while driving on a country road.
Mrs Roberts said the campaign was a community-minded partnership with a televisioin station.
“The case of Mia Davies has drawn particular attention to people being filmed while they’re driving,” she said.
“Whilst I’m advised this filming was done on a road closed to other traffic, by a camera operator and in other controlled circumstances, it’s not the best way to communicate a road safety message.”
The Road Safety Commission website describes the ‘Not on my road’ partnership as a “new approach to stimulating community conversation.”
“The challenge is to have the entire community understand, appreciate and embrace the notion that death and serious injury on our roads is avoidable,” the website said.
Mrs Roberts criticised Nationals WA leader Mia Davies in relation to a series of videos made 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.”
A spokesperson from Ms Davies office said she wouldn’t be making a comment unless an infringement was issued.
