Australia has just recorded its deadliest 12 months on the roads in nearly 12 years, with 1,310 fatalities up to June 30, according to the Australian Automobile Association (AAA).
The latest quarterly figures show this represents an 11.7% increase on the previous 12 months, compared to 1,173 deaths in 2022-23.
The figures include a 23% increase in the number of deaths in New South Wales Road deaths in Australia rose by 9% to 290, while deaths in Queensland rose by 8.4% to 296, and in South Australia by 8.6% to 101.
Meanwhile, road deaths fell by 30.8 per cent in Tasmania to June 30, to 27, while the Australian Capital Territory recorded a 20 per cent drop in deaths, from 10 to eight.
The death toll on the road in Western Australia has risen to 176 people.
Road deaths have been rising in recent years despite a long-standing campaign to reduce the number of fatalities, and the American Automobile Association is calling for an agreement from states and territories to collect road crash data so experts can better understand why this is happening.
In its May budget, Federal government unveils funding and plans to share road dataBut the data-sharing agreement, which is scheduled to begin in July, has not yet been finalized.
So far, the Queensland government has publicly agreed to provide its road safety data.
AAA Managing Director Michael Bradley called on state and territory leaders to commit to the Road Crash Data Sharing Initiative.
After promoting the newsletter
“States and territories need to report the data they hold on the causes of crashes, road quality and police effectiveness, so it can be used to produce more effective road safety interventions,” Bradley said.
“Sharing data would reveal which road safety measures are most effective in states, and which safety interventions are most needed. This would not only save lives, but would end the politicisation of road funding by revealing whether governments are investing in roads that need safety improvements, rather than investing in road projects in marginal constituencies to win votes.”
Road safety academics have looked at a range of Possible factors behind the increase in road accidentsincluding deteriorating road quality and speed limits that are too high for small and rural roads, as well as impatience and bad driving habits that have developed on empty streets during lockdowns.
Academics also pointed out that SUV ownership has increased dramatically over the past decade. And their capabilities It creates a sense of security which may make drivers less anxious. About the safety of other road users, as well as the fact that larger vehicles are more dangerous in collisions.
