Fix the Intersection:
Wellington St
Safer Streets for Everyone: Fixing a Dangerous Perth CBD Intersection
Transport Workers’ Union members, including bus drivers operating through the intersection of William Street, Wellington Street and Barrack Street in the Perth CBD, are calling for urgent action to address a growing safety crisis.
Over the past two years, this intersection has seen two fatalities and fourteen recorded incidents involving buses and pedestrians, with multiple serious injuries. For the drivers who navigate this area every day, these aren’t just numbers—they reflect a clear and ongoing risk that cannot be ignored.
Although bus drivers are highly trained professionals working in complex urban environments, they’re currently being placed in situations where intersection design, traffic flow, and pedestrian behaviour are not aligned with safety. This creates unavoidable risks for both drivers and the public.
What TWU members are calling on the WA State Government to implement for a safer crossroad
The urgency is only increasing with the opening of the new ECU City campus, which will bring significantly more pedestrian traffic into the area.
This campaign isn’t about blaming drivers or pedestrians—it’s about fixing a system that currently allows preventable incidents to happen. Bus drivers should not have to carry the trauma of avoidable accidents, and pedestrians should be able to move through the city safely.
The TWU is calling on the WA Government to act now—before more lives are put at risk.
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A scramble crossing would remove conflict between pedestrians and vehicles.
A scramble crossing is a type of traffic signal system that stops all vehicle traffic at an intersection at the same time, allowing pedestrians to cross in every direction—including diagonally—at once.
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Clear signage is necessary to help pedestrians stay alert around bus movements and traffic movements
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We are calling for Traffic signal adjustments, including longer amber lights, to give buses time to clear intersections safely.
Longer amber phases give bus drivers the time and certainty they need to move through intersections safely, reducing the risk of collisions with pedestrians and other vehicles, and helping keep both passengers and the public out of harm’s way.