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?