South Australian crashes

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South Australia has one of the highest death rates from crashes in Australia - 15% worse than the national average. Only the Northern Territory is higher. A total of 156 people died on our roads during 2003. Approximately that many have died each year since 1997. Most of those killed are drivers, followed by passengers, pedestrians, motorcyclists and cyclists. Most crashes occur on straight sections of rural roads, in a single vehicle accident which rolls over or runs off the road, but there are other factors as well.

Image provided by ANCAP

South Australian road crash death rate
Figure 1 National comparison of fatality rates per 100,000 population, 2003

(Possible explanations for the high rate of the Northern Territory are that it has many outback roads covering large distances and has a high indigenous population who tend to participate in risk taking behavior involving alcohol, over-loaded vehicles, traveling in the back of utilities or not wearing seatbelts.)

Numbers killed on South Australian roads in 2003
A total of 156 people died during 2003 – an increase of 2 deaths (1.3%) on the 2002 total.

Figure 2 shows the longer-term trend in South Australia’s road toll. Since the mid-1970s the road toll has been reducing – most significantly between 1974 and 1997. However, since 1997 the number of deaths has remained at an average of 157 per year. This is despite a steadily rising population and number of registered motor vehicles.

Figure 2: Annual number of road fatalities South Australia 1973- 2003

What were they doing on the road?
Table 1: SA Road Fatalities by User Group

Figure 3: SA Road Fatalities by Road User Group 1998 - 2003

What are the trends?

• 77 drivers were killed in 2003, 6 (8%) more than in 2002 with drivers in the 50-59 age group showing the largest increase.
• 44 passengers were killed, 5 (13%) more than in 2002 with passengers aged 60+ showing the largest increase.
• 12 motorcyclists died, 43% fewer than in 2002 with motorcyclists aged 25-39 showing the biggest reduction.
• 5 cyclists died, 67% more than in 2002.
• 17 pedestrians died, 11% fewer than in 2002 with the main decrease in pedestrians aged over 60.

Serious injuries on South Australian roads
A total of 1468 people were seriously injured in 2003 – a decrease of 70 (5%) on the 2002 total.

Figure 4 shows the longer-term trend in South Australia’s serious injuries. A total of 96,403 serious injuries have been recorded since 1968 to the end of 2003. After reaching a peak of 4,055 serious injuries in 1969, the number of serious injuries declined until the early 1990s. Since 1992 serious injuries have remained static between 1500 and 1600 serious injuries per year. In 2003, the number of serious injuries dropped below 1500.

Figure 4 – South Australian serious injuries, 1968 to 2003

Who is getting seriously injured?
Table 2: SA Road Serious Injuries by User Group

Figure 5: SA Serious Injuries by Road User Group 1998 - 2003

What are the trends?

• 783 drivers were seriously injured in 2003, 4% more than in 2002 with drivers in the 17-25 year age group showing the largest increase.
• 339 passengers were seriously injured, 95 (22%) fewer than in 2002 with passengers aged in the 5-16 year age group showing the largest decrease.
• 144 motorcyclists were seriously injured, 6% fewer than in 2002 with motorcyclists aged 16-25 showing the biggest reduction.
• 63 cyclists were seriously injured, 4 more than in 2002.
• 113 pedestrians were seriously injured, 12% fewer than in 2002 with the main decrease in pedestrians aged 17-25 years and over 60 years.

Where do SA crashes occur?

• 59% of all deaths and 50% of serious injuries occur on rural roads.
• More than 66% of country deaths occur on straight sections of road.
• More than 70% of crashes on open rural roads are single vehicle accidents such as rollovers or running off the road.
• 31% of fatal crashes and 18% of serious injury crashes occur on roads with a speed limit of 110 km/hr.
• More than 50% of serious injury crashes occur on roads with a speed limit of 60 km/hr.

Links
Summary of 2003 Road fatalities in South Australia