International visitors – road risks

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Since the 1990’s, the number of international visitors to Australia has increased by about 40%, to 4.4 million visitors each year. During this period, about 40 international visitors have been killed on Australian roads each year – about 2.5% of total road deaths.

Research done in 1994 found the rate of death of international visitors was 22 per 100 000 people, compared with only 10.8 for Australians. Recent research suggests their crashes may be more severe and more likely to occur in rural areas.

The main causes appear to be driving in unfamiliar conditions, not wearing seat belts, disorientation and fatigue.

What do we know about our international visitors?

• Most visitors come from countries such as New Zealand, Japan, United Kingdom and Singapore where driving is also on the left side of the road.
• However, almost 33% come from countries where driving is on the right side of the road.
• The average tourist remains in the country for about 24 days and is highly mobile.

Likely causes of crashes for international drivers
The key cause is believed to be driving in unfamiliar conditions. Other factors likely to be involved are:

• fatigue
• not using seat belts ( 52% of those killed were not wearing seat belts, compared to 38% of local drivers killed)
• overturning vehicles
• incidents which appear to involve disorientation such as head-on and angle crashes and failure to keep on the left
• alcohol and speeding, (but to the same extent as local drivers)

Likely causes of passenger deaths
Passengers are the largest group of international road users and account for 46% of international tourist deaths on the road.

Not wearing a seat belt was the main factor in these deaths, with the percentages involved being the same as for international drivers.

Likely causes of pedestrian deaths
The number of pedestrian deaths of international visitors each year is less than 10. However, 75% of these occur when the pedestrian steps from the kerb, which indicates they may be looking in the wrong direction when crossing the road.

Comparison with local crashes
It appears that international visitors not wearing seat belts may be related to their own country’s use and enforcement of seat belt laws. This is different to local drivers, where not wearing a seat belt is associated with other high risk behaviours such as drink driving.

There is some evidence that international visitor’s crashes are more severe than local crashes and that they are more likely to occur in rural areas. For example, their crash rate is particularly high in the Northern Territory where international visitors accounted for 13% of road deaths and 8% of injuries from 1998 – 2002.

What forms of transport are most used by international visitors?

• 26% used private or company cars
• 4% used a rental car
• 0.2% used vans, motor-homes and campervans
• 0.2% used four-wheel drives.

Other Important Information
Australia now has a National road safety action plan for International Visitors 2004-2005. This plan sets out the actions that will be taken to reduce the number of deaths and injuries resulting from crashes involving international visitors.