Australian road deaths climbed by 4.9% in the year to 31 October 2024, according to the Australian Automobile Association (AAA), citing statistics from the Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics.
The AAA says that the increase highlights 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 monthly road death statistics show 1,295 people died on Australian roads in the 12 months to 31 October – up 5.0% 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 (103.6%).
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.
Data on fatal crashes
Mr Bradley said, “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.
|
Jurisdiction
|
Road deaths in the 12 months to 31 Oct 2023
|
Road deaths in the 12 months to 31 Oct 2024
|
Change
|
% Change
|
|
NSW
|
327
|
339
|
12
|
3.7%
|
|
VIC
|
274
|
290
|
16
|
5.8%
|
|
QLD
|
288
|
291
|
3
|
1.0%
|
|
SA
|
107
|
95
|
-12
|
-11.2%
|
|
WA
|
170
|
182
|
12
|
7.1%
|
|
TAS
|
34
|
32
|
-2
|
-5.9%
|
|
NT
|
28
|
57
|
29
|
103.6%
|
|
ACT
|
3
|
9
|
6
|
200.0%
|
|
Australia
|
1,231
|
1,295
|
64
|
5.0%
|
Source: Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics statistics