Australia’s road toll is continuing to rise, with new data showing 1,240 people were killed in car crashes in the past 12 months, representing a 4.6% annual increase.
Data released by the Australian Automobile Association (AAA) on Sunday shows 1,240 people died on Australian roads in the 12 months to September this year, up from 1,186 the previous year. More than 100 people were hospitalised every day.
The report, based on Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics figures shows the highest rise was in South Australia, where road deaths climbed to 104 in the 12 months to September, a 28.4% increase from the 81 deaths recorded the year before.
New South Wales had the second highest increase, with 340 deaths recorded, a 17.2% increase on the 290 recorded the year before. This was followed by Western Australia, which recorded 169, up from 158 deaths the year before, a 7% increase. And Victoria, recorded 269 deaths, up from 252, a 6.7% increase.
Some jurisdictions recorded decreases in road fatalities over the 12 months, including Northern Territory, down from 49 to 26. The ACT recorded nine deaths, down from 14, Tasmania recorded 33, down from 48, and Queensland recorded 290, down from 294.
The increase is thought to be caused by more people driving after the pandemic, driver behaviour and an uptake in SUVs, which are safer for the occupants but more dangerous for everyone else on the road.
Cycling deaths rose 30.3%, and pedestrian deaths rose 11.3%.
The overall rise means Australia is further away from its goal of reducing road deaths by 50% by 2030 and eliminating road deaths of children seven years or younger. The peak body says these numbers show annual fatalities are now 13% higher than when the strategy was agreed upon.
In response to worsening road safety outcomes, the AAA has launched its Data Saves Lives campaign, calling on transport minister Catherine King to tie the $10bn the federal government spends on roads each year to states and territories releasing data on which roads are the most deadly.
Each jurisdiction across Australia has used an international assessment tool to rate the safety of their road network – with 450,000km of roads done so far.
The AAA managing director, Michael Bradley, said data transparency was needed in order to save lives.
“Australia’s current approach to road safety is not working and data transparency is needed to allow an examination of the factors responsible for current failings,” Bradley said.
“It would also provide a new level of funding transparency and assure voters that their political representatives are spending taxpayers’ money where it will be most effective in making our roads safer.”
The AAA is calling on the commonwealth and states to include data sharing obligations in the next five-year National Partnership Agreement on Land Transport Infrastructure Projects, now under development and expected take effect from July 2024, he said.
“Australia’s current approach to road safety is not working and data transparency is needed to allow an examination of the factors responsible for current failings.”
