Safe Driving

Editor: Justin Healey
ISBN 978 1 921507 08 3
Year 2009

Price: $20.95

  

Safe Driving
Volume 298, Issues in Society

In 2008, 1454 people died on Australia’s roads, many of whom were young drivers. While there has been a decrease in road fatalities over the last decade, the annual road death and injury rate is still well above the 10-year target set by the Federal Government. What is being done to promote and manage road safety in this country? This book is aimed at young and learner drivers, with an emphasis on safe driving and identifying and avoiding risk behaviours. Topics include: accidents, injuries and fatalities; speeding; drink and drug driving; road rage and aggression; driver fatigue; pedestrian safety; driving for the conditions; community attitudes to road safety; and safety advice for young drivers.

Chapter 1: Road Safety and Risk Behaviours
Road deaths remain above national targets, Accidents, injuries and fatalities, Speeding, Drink driving, Driving and alcohol, Drugs and driving in Australia – a brief report, Drug driving in Australia, Aggressive driving, Fatigue, Pedestrian safety for your child, Community attitudes to road safety.

Chapter 2: Safety Tips for Young Drivers
Road safety and young Australians, Dangerous driving, Young drivers crashing through the generation gap, Why is it important to get plenty of driving practice?, Driving tips, Road safety tips, More safe driving tips, Driving for the conditions.

Glossary; Fast Facts; Web Links; Index



fast facts
FAST FACTS from this volume
  • The fatality rate fell from 7.7 deaths for every 100,000 people to 6.9 deaths in 2008, with a total of 1454 people dying on the country's roads, figures from the Australian Automobile Association show. But the figure is still significantly higher than the 2009 target rate of 5.6 set out in the government’s national road safety strategy in 1999. The strategy had aimed to save 750 lives over 10 years, but it is now unlikely that target will be achieved.
  • 68% of Australia's road network received a rating of three stars out of five, or less, in a safety evaluation conducted as part of the Australian road assessment program.
  • Transport-related deaths fell from 1,689 in 2004 to 1,638 in 2005. The majority of deaths (73% in 2005) were associated with motor vehicles driven on public roads. Pedestrian deaths fell from 270 in 2004 to 250 in 2005, while the number of pedal cyclist deaths fell from 41 to 31 (24%) over the same period.
  • The number of deaths from road traffic crashes per 100,000 persons fell from 8.0 in 2005 to 7.8 in 2006. In 1970 the rate was 30.4. Road deaths per 100,000 persons in the Northern Territory in 2006 (20.3) was significantly higher than the national rate. The Australian Capital Territory had the lowest rate of road deaths (4.0 per 100,000 persons) in 2006. Western Australia recorded the greatest increase in road deaths per 100,000 persons, from 8.1 in 2005 to 9.9 in 2006, while the ACT recorded the greatest decrease in road deaths per 100,000 persons between 2005 and 2006, from 8.0 to 4.0.
  • The NT had the highest number of fatalities per 10,000 registered vehicles (3.7) in 2006. Between 2005 and 2006 fatalities per 10,000 registered vehicles fell in the ACT from 1.2 to 0.6.
  • Until 1970, each year other than during the Depression and World War II had seen a steady growth in motor vehicle ownership and a corresponding increase in road deaths. By 1970 the number of vehicles had increased twelve-fold over the number in 1926 and the road toll had increased about four times to reach its highest mark of 3,798 deaths. The number of fatalities per 100,000 people also peaked in 1970 at 30.4.
  • The road toll in 2006 of 1,601 was less than half the 1970 figure, while the number of fatalities per 100,000 people (8.0) for 2006 was less than a third of that of 1970. Also, while there were 8.0 road fatalities per 10,000 registered vehicles in 1970, this rate has decreased to 1.1 in 2006.
  • In both 2001 and 2006 the majority of fatal crashes occurred on roads where the posted speed limit was 100 km/hour and above (44% in 2006), followed by roads with a speed limit of up to 60 km/h (33%). A further 23% of fatal crashes occurred on roads with speed zones of between 65 km/h and 95 km/h.
  • In both 2001 and 2006 the highest proportion of fatal crashes was single vehicle crashes (41% and 47% respectively). Pedestrian crashes accounted for 18% of crash types in 2001 and 15% in 2006.
  • Australia’s rate of 8.0 road deaths per 100,000 persons in 2005 is considerably lower than the rates of the USA (14.7), Poland (14.3), the Republic of (South) Korea (13.2) and Portugal (11.8). Australia’s rate is, however, markedly higher than Sweden (4.9) and Switzerland and the United Kingdom (5.5).
  • Australia’s rate of road deaths per 10,000 registered vehicles (1.2) was below the OECD median (1.4). For the countries listed, the Republic of (South) Korea has the highest death rate per 10,000 registered vehicles (3.4).
  • The number of fatalities per 100 mill. vehicle-kilometres travelled in Australia in 2005 (0.8) was slightly lower than the OECD median (0.9).
  • In rural out of town areas, travelling just 10 km/h faster than the average speed of other traffic, you are twice as likely to have a serious crash. Travelling a bit slower than other traffic on the highway actually reduces the chances that you will have a serious crash.
  • Alcohol slows down your mental and physical reactions. It can reduce the ability of a driver to respond to situations, make decisions and take actions. Alcohol affects a driver’s judgment of speed and distance and may give a driver false confidence and increase risk-taking behaviour.
  • The drug most commonly associated with drug driving was alcohol, with 12.6% of drinkers admitting to driving with a BAC over .05 in the past year. This was followed by cannabis (12.3%), methamphetamine (6.9%), ecstasy (5.8%) and benzodiazepine (4%).
  • Males are more likely to partake in drug driving than females.
  • Based on self-reported rates from the National Drug Strategy Household Survey, in 2007 12% of Australians aged 14 years or over had driven a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, and 3% had driven while under the influence of illegal drugs in the past 12 months.
  • The Australian community continues to identify speed as the factor which most often leads to road crashes. When asked to nominate the factor that most often leads to road crashes, 39% mention speed, 14% inattention/lack of concentration, 11% drink driving and 7% driver fatigue.
  • In 2006, 1,603 people were killed on Australian roads. Some 22,000 people were admitted to hospital with serious injures as a result of road crashes. Road crashes in Australia are estimated to cost approximately $17 billion annually – or $46 million every day. This is equivalent to 2.3% of Australia’s GDP.
  • In 2006, 552 people aged 25 years or younger were killed on Australian roads (34% of all deaths). Males represented three in four young people killed in 2006. Road injury is the main cause of unintentional death and hospitalisation among young people. About ¾ of all preventable deaths among 15-19 year olds are due to transport injury.
  • In 2006, 763 drivers were killed on the roads – young drivers accounted for 231 (30%) of these deaths. Taking into account distances driven, young drivers are significantly more likely to be killed than other drivers.
  • In 2006, 335 passengers were killed on the roads – young people accounted for 183 (55%) of these deaths. Passenger deaths and injuries tend to be especially high among 16 to 19 year olds because they often spend a lot of time traveling as passengers – rather than driving, walking or bicycling – and they often travel in vehicles driven by young drivers.
  • In 2006, 227 pedestrians were killed on the roads – young people accounted for 55 (24%) of these deaths.
  • In 2006, 39 bicyclists were killed on the roads – young people accounted for 11 (28%) of these deaths, and all of these were males.