Royal Automobile Club of Western Australia

History

1905: The Automobile Club of WA starts signposting roads and creating maps of the state for motorists and the Club encourages local authorities to improve road surfaces and push for lower city-driving speeds.

1911: The first road map detailing WA’s South West is created by the Club.

1918: The Club lobbies government for uniform traffic regulations, such as drivers needing a licence, drivers to keep to the left and that all vehicles have brakes.

1919: The new Traffic Act becomes law. The Club pushes for a Main Roads Board to oversee and maintain major carriageways and a plan for new roads.

1920: The giant karri trees of southern WA are guaranteed preservation after the Club successfully campaigns to have an area each side of the Nannup-Warren road declared a national park.

1922: The Automobile Club of WA is given permission to use the word Royal, becoming the Royal Automobile Club of WA, or RAC.

1926: The RAC Roadside Assistance Patrol, begins in Perth, expanding to Northam and Bunbury in 1928.

1927: RAC successfully lobby the government to abolish a toll to enter Kings Park.

1928: RAC’s Touring Department is formed. 

1930: RAC sides with the WA Safety First Council to pressure the State Government to fix several dangerous Perth intersections.

1932: RAC campaigns to make stealing or unlawful use of a motor car a criminal offence.

1940: RAC initiates the National Safety Council to give Australian motoring clubs a national voice.

1945: RAC campaigns to either reduce the federal tax on petrol or allocate greater funds to WA for road improvements.

1947: RAC Insurance Pty Ltd commences operations.

1957: Road Service is extended to 24 hours.

1970: RAC advocates for the compulsory installation of Motor Vehicle Standards approved seatbelts.

1973: With seatbelts in new cars now compulsory, RAC seeks legislation banning the sale of non-approved seatbelts and child restraints.

1975: RAC hands over the maintenance of its directional signposting program to local authorities.

1978: Begins the push for drink-driving reform by releasing RAC research linking many fatal automobile accidents to drinking.

1980: RAC pushes for $400 million of taxes from the crude oil levy to be spent on roads.

1983: RAC is appointed to monitor emergency telephones on Kwinana and Mitchell freeways.

1992: Along with other Australian automobile clubs, RAC creates the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP), which tests and rates the safety of new vehicles.

1996: As part of its Crime Stoppers sponsorship, RAC Community Education officers visit schools and community groups to raise awareness of the program.

2001: The Federal Government reduces the fuel excise and ends automatic indexation after significant campaigning by RAC.

2002: RAC and WA Police join forces to establish the Neighbourhood Watch program.

2003: The first RAC Rescue Helicopter takes to the skies, providing a 24-hour emergency service in WA, flying more than 4400 missions so far. Initiated the Red Spot campaign to improve the worst congestion spots on WA roads.

2004: RAC secures a commitment of $100 million from the State Government to improve road safety, including $20 million for black spots and $80 million for safer roads.

2006: Partnering with other motoring clubs, RAC develops a star rating system for the safety levels of Australia’s road network.

2009: RAC opens its Driver Training and Education Centre, offering courses for defensive driving, 4WD and truck driving, motorcycle riding and towing.

2011: RAC installs its first electric-vehicle charging station. RAC establishes the RAC Community Sponsorship Program, providing more than $1.2 million to 150 local WA communities and initiatives over 5 years.

2012: After 10 years of lobbying by RAC, the State Government directs 100% of red light and speed camera fines to the Road Trauma Trust Account for road safety projects. The first RAC bstreetsmart event is held, an annual crash re-enactment teaching students about road safety.

2013: RAC launches the world’s first attention-powered car to raise awareness about inattention on our roads.

2015: RAC Electric Highway® opens, the first of its kind in Australia, running from Perth to Augusta. As a symbol of the silence on road safety in the WA Wheatbelt, RAC unveils a life-sized African elephant sculpture made out of crashed cars. It highlights the significantly higher fatality rate in the Wheatbelt and our need to start a conversation. Following RAC lobbying, the State Government appoints a Road Safety Commissioner

2016: A second RAC Rescue Helicopter, based in Bunbury, flies into action as part of WA's only dedicated 24-hour emergency helicopter service. RAC begins trialling the RAC Intellibus, Australia's first driverless and fully electric shuttle bus.

Services

Advocacy

The RAC is an important advocate for its members and the WA community on issues such as road and vehicle safety, fuel pricing, road funding, transport planning, energy and the environment.

Corporate

The RAC headquarters is located at 832 Wellington Street, West Perth, Western Australia. On the Wellington Street frontage a number of floor paving tiles recognise the contribution of notable Western Australians to the RAC and motoring in Western Australia.

The RAC Group comprises the Royal Automotive Club of WA (Incorporated), RAC Insurance Pty Limited, RAC Travel Services Pty Ltd, RAC Finance Ltd and RAC Security Services Pty Ltd.