Why Wanneroo Road sees so many crashes and breakdowns
Wanneroo Road is about 44 kilometres long. It begins in Joondanna, where it carries on from Charles Street, and runs north to Yanchep, where it becomes Indian Ocean Drive. For much of the northern suburbs it is the main alternative to the Mitchell Freeway, so it carries a heavy load of local and through traffic at the same time.
In the south it is mostly a four-lane divided road, widening to six lanes through Balcatta. It meets Morley Drive, has a diamond interchange with Reid Highway, and then forms the boundary between the City of Joondalup and the City of Wanneroo for several kilometres. Along that stretch there are traffic lights at Warwick Road, Marangaroo Drive, Hepburn Avenue near the Kingsway City shopping centre, Gnangara Road and Whitfords Avenue. Several of those junctions sit close together, which means lots of lane changes in a short distance.
Beyond Ocean Reef Road, which crosses at a grade-separated interchange, the road passes the Wangara industrial area, the Wanneroo town centre and then newer estates before turning rural. North of Wanneroo much of it is a two-lane country road with higher speed limits, trucks, slower vehicles and limited chances to overtake. The speed limit changes several times along the way, so drivers who don’t keep an eye on the signs can be caught out.
What to do after an accident on Wanneroo Road
- Check everyone is OK. If anyone is hurt, or a vehicle is blocking the road and creating danger, call 000 straight away. For police assistance that isn’t urgent, call 131 444.
- Make the scene safe. Switch on your hazard lights. In the suburbs, move a drivable car into a side street or car park. On the rural stretch, pull right onto the verge and stand well away from passing traffic, which may be doing 80 or 90 km/h.
- Exchange details. WA law requires drivers involved in a crash to give each other their names and addresses. Note the other car’s rego and insurer as well.
- Take photos of the damage, the plates, the road markings and anything that shows exactly where you are, like a street sign or business sign.
- Report it when required. In WA, crashes involving injury, damage over $3,000 in total, or damaged property whose owner isn’t present must be reported to police. The online crash reporting facility on the WA Government website is the simplest way.
Once you’re safe, our accident towing crew can take the car away, and we’ll handle the paperwork with your insurer through our insurance towing service.
Suburbs along Wanneroo Road
In the south the road runs through Balcatta and past Nollamara, then between Balga and Hamersley. It continues past Girrawheen and Madeley to the industrial suburb of Wangara, with Woodvale on the opposite side. North of Ocean Reef Road it passes Pearsall and Hocking into Wanneroo, then heads on through Ashby and Tapping.
How we help
We tow along Wanneroo Road 24/7, from the inner northern suburbs right out to the semi-rural end. We bill your insurer directly, and we’ll take your car wherever you want it to go. Call 0419 857 070 with your nearest cross street.