Notoriously dangerous Capel stretch of Bussell Highway has speed limit reduced to 80km/h

The speed limit on a notoriously dangerous stretch of highway between Bunbury and Busselton has been slashed after years of campaigning just days after a horror crash that claimed the life of a young father. A 2.5km section of Bussell Highway, between Spurr Road and Halls Road near Capel, has been permanently reduced from 110km/h to 80km/m. It comes after long-held calls from nearby residents as the number of fatal crashes continued to tally up. Last Tuesday, 29-year-old South West father Aaron Simpson was the latest casualty of the road — which was once labelled the “riskiest” in WA after an RAC survey — after crashing into the rear of an oversize truck. Main Roads WA even recently conducted a Safe Systems Review of the stretch of highway recently, in conjunction with WA Police and independent scientific behaviourists. Although the recommendations from the study were to increase signage and reduce safety hazards, Main Roads WA also announced the speed change on Friday. MRWA spokesman Dean Roberts said the decision was made to improve safety on the deadly road. “Reducing the speed limit to 80km/h will potentially decrease the risk and severity of serious crashes and also is in line with community expectations,” he said. Mr Roberts said the section of highway was used by about 17,000 motorists each day, with about 10 per cent of those heavy vehicles. Tributes have this week continued to flow for Mr Simpson, who is being remembered as a “kind and gentle soul” who would do anything for his two children. A Gofundme campaign has already raised more than $24,000 for his young family. “I can’t possibly imagine going through such horrific grief whilst also looking after two young children — the youngest being only five weeks old,” close friend Kacey Taylor wrote on the Gofundme donation site.