Australia’s road toll up ahead of Christmas

Despite the myriad of lockdowns and other state government-enforced COVID restrictions, Australia’s road death toll is up 1.4 per cent in the 12 months to November 30, prompting calls by the Australian Automotive Association (AAA) for urgent improvements to national road safety management.

According to data from the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications, 1126 people lost their lives on Aussie roads between December 1, 2020 and November 30, 2021 – an increase of 16 fatalities compared to the 1110 recorded over the preceding 12 months.

At a state and territory level, Queensland (291) experienced the biggest increase in deaths in terms of sheer volume (+25/+10.1%) – making the most recent 12 months some of the most lethal of the past decade – but it was the Australian Capital Territory (10) that saw the biggest percentage jump (+42.9%) with three extra deaths.

The death tallies in Victoria (230), South Australia (100) and Western Australia (159) also increased by 6.5, 2.0 and 0.6 per cent respectively, while the road tolls in New South Wales (266, -8.6%), Tasmania (35, -7.9%) and the Northern Territory’s (35, -7.9%) all improved.

Describing the national total as a “poorly” reflection of the “chaotic national approach to road safety”, AAA managing director Michael Bradley said “ministers considering Australia’s overdue National Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030, need to prioritise” the issue.

“Road trauma has killed more than 1000 Australians every year since 1935, however national data coordination problems continue to thwart evidence-based policy and well-targeted funding,” he said.

“Australia’s data-driven response to COVID shows what’s possible within our federation and what governments should aspire to in road safety.”

According to Bradley, the AAA is concerned the draft National Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030 repeats past mistakes and will fail to generate the comprehensive data needed to either monitor or manage Australia’s road trauma crisis.

Dissecting the data further, motorcyclist deaths jumped 15.9 per cent to 219 over the past 12 months while the number of cyclists killed dropped 23.9 per cent to 35.

“Despite only accounting for 28 per cent of the national population, regional Australia now records 62 per cent of Australian road deaths, and regional Australians are five-times more likely to die from road trauma than those in metropolitan areas,” an AAA spokesperson said.

Even though the 2020/21 data is up nationally on the 2019/20 findings, the overarching trend line has gradually lowered over the past five years with only a few small blemishes undoing the previous improvements.

For the 12 months ending November 30, 2017, Australia’s national road death toll was 1208, a figure that dropped to 1165 over the next 12 months before rising to 1175 the period after.

That number then dropped to 1110 over the 12 months ending November 30, 2020, and now here we are with a subtle increase once again.

If the trend line continues as is, Australia’s road toll should drop comfortably below 1100 over the coming 12 months. However, with most border restrictions set to be removed in the immediate future there are plenty of question marks hovering.

In the lead-up to Christmas – traditionally one of the most dangerous times for road users – the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) has encouraged drivers to follow its ‘12 Checks of Christmas’ checklist ahead of what’s tipped to be busiest summers on record for traffic.

“The heat of Australian summer and the rapid weather changes of La Niña will put pressure on cars that may not have had their normal maintenance due to lockdowns,” FCAI chief executive Tony Weber said.

“Throw the stress of the silly season, heavily laden vehicles, and drivers out of their comfort zones into the mix. It’s a perfect storm.

“This check has been prepared so it can be done without any mechanical knowledge. It’s quick, easy and it might save you spending precious annual leave on the side of the road, or worse.”