Recent changes in numbers of deaths

•  In 2008, there were 1,464 people killed in road crashes. In comparison to the previous year, this is a decline of 8.7%. During the five year period ending 2008, the average annual decline was 1.4%.
• Comparing 2008 with 2007, most jurisdictions achieved significant decreases in road deaths:
  • decreases were recorded in NSW (down 8.7%),
  • Victoria (down 8.7%),
  • Queensland (down 9.2%),
  • South Australia (down 20.2%),
  • Western Australia (down 11.1%) and
  • Tasmania (down 11.1%)
  • The Northern Territory was up 29.3% and the Australian Capital Territory was unchanged.
• Among different road user groups:
  • driver deaths decreased by 11.5%
  • passenger deaths decreased by 10.1%
  • pedestrian deaths decreased by 5.4%
  • motorcyclist deaths increased by 3.4%
  • there were 14 fewer cyclist deaths (down from 41 to 27).
• Male deaths decreased by 8.1 % and female deaths decreased by 10.2%.
  Five-year trends
  • Between 2003 and 2008 national road deaths decreased by an average of 1.4% per year.
  • The five-year trend differed between males and females.
  • Females showed an average annual decrease of 3.4% and males had an average annual decrease of 0.6%.
• The five-year trend has varied between jurisdictions:
  • the greatest average annual decrease was observed in South Australia (down 7.9%)
  • followed by NSW (down 5.6%)
  • Tasmania (down 2.3%) and
  • Victoria (down 1.6%)
  • the greatest average annual increase occurred in the Northern Territory (up 9.2%)
  • followed by the ACT (up 5.4%)
  • Western Australia (up 5.3%) and
  • Queensland (up 2.1%).
• Between road user groups:
  • passenger deaths showed the largest average annual decrease of 5.2%
  • pedestrian deaths had an average annual decrease of 3.2%
  • driver deaths had an average annual decrease of 0.9%
  • motorcyclist deaths increased by an average of 5.7% annually
  • no trend was apparent for cyclist deaths.
• Across age groups:
  • deaths in the 0-16 age group declined at an average rate of 7.6 % per year
  • the 17-25 age group declined on average by 2.0% per year
  • the 26-39 year group showed no trend across the last five years
  • the 40-59 year group increased with a marginal rate of 0.7 % per year
  • the 60+ age group declined on average by 2.3% per year.
• Death rate per 100,000 population
  • Between 2007 and 2008 the number of people killed per 100,000 resident.
  • Australian population declined from 7.6 to 6.9. Ten years ago, the figure was 9.4.
• Crashes involving articulated trucks and buses
  • There were 130 fatal crashes involving articulated trucks in 2008, and these resulted in 150 deaths.
  • This compares with 144 fatal crashes and 176 deaths the previous year.
  • There were 20 fatal crashes involving buses in 2008, and these resulted in 22 deaths.
  • This compares with 23 fatal crashes and 23 deaths recorded the previous year.