NRMA Motoring Blog

The first half of 2008 saw a drop in the road toll when compared with the same period in 2007. Between January and June this year, 704 people were killed on Australia’s roads. 805 people died during the same period in 2007.

Prior to this year, road deaths had decreased only slightly – by an average of 0.9 per cent per year between 2002 and 2007. However, in the first nine months of 2008, 1,078 fatalities have occurred on our roads – a nine per cent decrease compared with the same period in 2007.

The number of bicycle riders killed between July 07 and June 08 is also down compared with the previous year, dropping by 34 per cent.

The figures indicate Australia’s road laws, and the harsh penalties for breaking them, are working. Flashing lights marking school zones, reduced speed limits, double demerits over holiday weekends and more restrictions on P-platers all appear to be helping to save lives.

The statistics are saying our roads are getting safer, but are they? If the figure is the result of our road laws, do we make penalties for breaking them even tougher to bring this figure down further?

The road toll over the recent Christmas/New Year holiday period was one of Australia’s lowest in a decade. When the holiday period officially ended the toll was at 46, far below the 62 and 78 in the preceding years.

Victoria fared the worst with 17 deaths and WA recorded 11. There was a huge improvement in NSW where eight fatalities were recorded, compared to the 19 last year.

But, with the ideal road toll being zero, more can of course be done.

Heavy penalties apply to those caught drink driving, including immediate suspension of driver’s licence and potential jail terms.

Driver fatigue is a well known and heavily advertised factor of safety on long drives. The RTA provides driver reviver sites along major highways and uses billboards along these roads warning of the danger of driving more than 2 hours without a break.

Speeding is another factor that contributes to crashes. Again we have been told about the dangers of speeding whether it be by advertising, doubling demerit points, increasing the number of police patrols on the road and showing what the results of speeding can do to drivers and their families.

Given that the road toll has dropped, it could be assumed that advertising and public education campaigns, billboards and the increased penalties are working to make our roads safer.

However, lives are still being lost on our roads. What else can we do to reduce the number of crashes causing injury and death during the holiday period?