Road fatalities spike as pandemic restrictions ease
New study looks at how drivers can minimise risk amid rising fatal crashes and road injuriesAs more Australian motorists return to the road after two years of reduced time behind the wheel due to COVID-19 restrictions, car crashes and fatalities have, perhaps unsurprisingly, spiked.
That’s prompted financial firm Savvy to build a picture of the current landscape in a new study based on recent figures from the federal transport department, and to recommend ways in which drivers can minimise risk.
The headline figure is that road fatalities have spiked 2.7 per cent over the past 12 months, with the annual fatality rate now at 4.4 per cent per 100,000 people (to the end of March).
According to the report, there have been 1138 deaths on Australian roads over the past 14 months, with a 20.7 increase in fatalities of people aged 65-74.
The majority of deaths were in the 40-64-year-old age group – the most common type of accident being nose-to-tail crashes and side swipes – followed by 17-25-year-olds, with most accidents occurring on weekdays, involving male drivers and occurring in New South Wales.
And it’s speeding that remains top of the list when it comes to the cause of accidents, despite the fact the report says 25 per cent of Australians are in favour of increasing speed limits.
Distracted driving and fatigue are also common factors when it comes to the statistics, which Savvy Finance chief executive Bill Tsouvalas highlighted as an increasing are of concern.
“More Australians are experiencing stress from the loss of jobs, financial troubles and lifestyle changes which are causing people to be more distracted behind the wheel,” he said.
“This, combined with a lack of quality sleep and not paying attention, is causing a high climb in road tolls, despite a decrease in the amount of traffic on the road due to lockdowns.”
In its report, Savvy has come up with top tips to stay safe and avoid common road accidents:
- Do not forget the basics – obey the speed limit, drive the right speed for the weather and road conditions, stop at red lights, use your turn signals, give way and wear seat belts correctly
- Turn the engine off before using your phone or, if tempted, switch over to aeroplane mode or use hands-free while driving – but remember, hands-free can still be a distraction
- Do not trust your tired self, turn to Uber, or similar if you need a lift and feel fatigued
- Stay alert and keep calm behind the wheel
- Avoid common distractions such as eating/drinking, reading navigations, applying makeup/styling hair, smoking/vaping
- Take frequent breaks on extended drives
- Leave three to four seconds distance between you and the car in front to reduce the risk of a rear-end collision
- Undergo formal driving training
You can read the full report here.
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