Independent Liberal Member for Alfred Cove Dr Janet Woollard raised community concerns about young people cleaning the windscreens of vehicles at the lights at the intersection of Canning Highway and the Kwinana Freeway with the City of Melville’s Road Safety Advisory Committee.

“Cleaning windscreens at a major intersection like Canning Highway and the Kwinana Freeway that has more than 15,000 vehicle movements per day is a very dangerous practice,” said Dr Woollard.

“Acting Senior Sergeant Bob Bateman of the Southern Metropolitan Traffic Patrol was at the meeting and advised that police have received similar complaints regarding this unsafe practice.”

“He told the committee that police patrol the area when they can but offenders have a tendency to run away when they see a police vehicle approaching making it difficult to apprehend the offenders.”

“Snr Sgt Bateman acknowledged that the practice holds up traffic and advised that police would continue to target the area in an effort to discourage young people from undertaking this type of work.”

Dr Woollard said young people, some of them school-aged children, have been offering the windscreen washing service for a fee but the potential for a terrible accident is high as they run between vehicles lined up at the lights.

“The young people involved may not realise that the practice of soliciting employment such as washing windscreens while on a carriageway is an offence under the Road Traffic Code, Section 259 and it carries a fine of $50,” said Dr Woollard.

“Some drivers have reported feeling intimidated as several young people have surrounded their car and insisted on washing the windscreen despite them saying no.”

“The young people involved need to understand that they are breaking the law and that their actions may result in a terrible accident.”

Dr Woollard said if drivers see people offering this service at intersections, they can report the matter to the police on 131 444.

Section 259 of the Road Traffic Code 2000 – Selling papers and cars, hitch-hiking etc. 1. A person shall not, while on a carriageway or median strip – a) Solicit contributions, employment or a ride from an occupant of a vehicle; or b) Offer a newspaper, periodical or magazine for sale, to the occupant of a vehicle. Modified Penalty: 1 PU (Penalty Unit = $50)