A taxi driver was reportedly seen stopping on the Mitchell Freeway in Osborne Park, Perth, on Friday evening, where he paused his vehicle in the emergency lane and briefly stopped outside his car.
Photos circulating online show the driver parked on the side of the busy freeway during peak hour traffic, with passing vehicles moving at high speed.
His taxi was stationary with its boot open, and hazard lights were not clearly visible. A designated emergency stopping bay was reportedly located about 1 km ahead.
A local witness who saw the incident described it as “dangerous and concerning,” given the heavy traffic conditions at the time.
Under Western Australia’s road rules, stopping on a freeway or motorway is generally prohibited except in a genuine emergency or in designated stopping areas.
The incident comes amid ongoing concern about road safety in the state, with traffic authorities reporting a rise in road fatalities this year compared to recent averages.