WA trials program to reduce road deaths

Drivers deemed a safety risk on West Australian roads will get a letter of warning from police and have their number plate flagged on a computer system under a new program being trialled.

It is hoped that the strategy, targeting people who accrue too many demerit points or have multiple driving convictions, will reduce the number of deaths on WA roads.

In some rural areas, police will visit people considered at risk in person.

Police said research collected between January and October last year showed almost 70 per cent of people at fault in crashes had at least two previous traffic infringements - more than 85 per cent of which were for speeding.

Almost a quarter did not have a valid drivers' licence, while more than 30 per cent had at least one previous drink or drug driving conviction.

There were 184 road fatalities in WA last year.