Plan to block overtaking lanes rubbished

A former police superintendent has rubbished the idea of blocking off overtaking lanes in Western Australia's popular South West region during peak holiday periods, such as Easter.

Main Roads is looking at options to improve traffic flow on Bussell Highway between Capel and Busselton, and is considering a trial to test whether closing overtaking lanes on the busiest days will improve safety and cut the road toll, The Sunday Times newspaper reports.

But former police superintendent David Parkinson quipped he thought it was a late April Fools' Day joke.

He said the overtaking lanes were used to pass slow-moving vehicles, such as trucks and caravans, and blocking the lanes off would not stop arrogant and aggressive "lunatics" from overtaking cars in potentially dangerous situations.

"I wouldn't mind $5 for every infringement I did as the Peel superintendent for people going across double white lines," he told 6PR radio on Monday.

Mr Parkinson said the issue of "bottlenecking" - where several drivers exceed the speed limit to overtake a slower car and then break heavily when the overtaking lane finishes - is a policing matter.

He advocated for more police on the roads and officers showing "no mercy" for bad drivers, adding motorists who used phones should face harsher penalties for "driving a death trap".

Mr Parkinson also said that for the past 10 years he had been pushing for people who lost their licence from offences, such as reckless driving and drink driving, to not get it back after a few months.

He said they should have to reapply for their licence and go through the entire process again.