Australian road deaths continue to climb 

Australian road deaths climbed 4.9 per cent in the year to 31 October, highlighting the failings of current road safety interventions and the importance of recently announced government commitments to publish more data about the factors driving the nation’s road safety crisis.  

The latest Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics’ monthly road death statistics show 1,291 people died on Australian roads in the 12 months to 31 October – up 4.9% from 1,231 in the previous corresponding period. 

This is the deadliest October on Australian roads since October 2016. It also marks the 27th consecutive month in which road deaths increased compared to the previous year’s corresponding period.  

The figures reveal 12-monthly increases in road deaths in NSW (3.7%), Victoria (5.8%), Queensland (1%) and Western Australia (7.1%). Fatalities surged in the ACT (200%) and the Northern Territory (89.3%).  

Jurisdiction  Road deaths in the 12 months to 31 October 2023  Road deaths in the 12 months to 31 October 2024  Change  % change 
NSW  327  339  12  3.7% 
VIC  274  290  16  5.8% 
QLD  288  291  1.0% 
SA  107  95  -12  -11.2% 
WA  170  182  12  7.1% 
TAS  34  32  -2  -5.9% 
NT  28  53  25  89.3% 
ACT  200.0% 
Australia  1,231  1,291  60  4.9% 
Source: Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics statistics.  

Only South Australia (-11.2%) and Tasmania (-5.9%) had 12-month declines in road deaths. But even these jurisdictions are still significantly off-track from their National Road Safety Strategy 2021-30 notional targets because of previous increases in fatalities. 

AAA Managing Director Michael Bradley said the figures showed why state and territory governments must fast-track data provision after Transport Minister Catherine King secured agreement for data transparency in the recently finalised Federation Funding Agreement on transport infrastructure. 

 “These figures and their continued climb again show that Australia’s current approach to road safety is not working. 

“Australia’s vehicle fleet has never been safer, enormous effort is being dedicated to driver training, and tens of billions of dollars are spent annually on our road network – yet our road trauma figures continue to worsen. 

“Australia desperately needs an evidence-based approach to a crisis that’s now killing more than 100 Australians every month and hospitalising 100 Australians every day. 

“Australia’s governments should be commended for finally agreeing to publish the data they collect about the quality of our road network and the factors causing fatality crashes across Australia. 

“Publishing this data will save lives, because it will explain crashes occurring today, and tell us how to prevent similar crashes in the future.” 

Under the Federation Funding Agreement, states have agreed to publish data on the location and type of crashes; the state of our roads; causes of crashes related to risky behaviour; drug and alcohol measurements; seat belt and helmet use; speed; and driver fatigue, inexperience and distraction. 

*The Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics released the October road deaths figures on the morning of Monday 18 November. Later that day, BITRE corrected the numbers, adding four new Northern Territory road deaths for September. This change does not affect the October road toll, but it does change the total for the preceding 12 months – 1,295 people died on Australian roads in the 12 months to 31 October, up 5.2% from 1,231 in the previous corresponding period.

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