Main Causes of Road-Related Fatalities

2 Jun Blog

In 2021, there were 1,123 road crash accidents in Australia according to the Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics (BITRE). 528 of these were drivers, 181 were passengers, 132 were pedestrians, 235 were motorcyclists, and 40 were pedal cyclists. New South Wales alone has recorded 271 deaths caused by road accidents.

In a country where road freight is a vast majority, we need to make sure that everyone is alive and well by staying aware while on the road. Let us recall and determine the number one cause of road accidents in Australia.

1. Speeding Accidents

Speeding is the number one cause of fatal road accidents in Australia. Speeding drivers are more likely to be involved in a collision than those driving at the speed limit.

Every time you try to beat a red light, overtake a car going the speed limit or attempt to get ahead when merging on the freeway, you’re likely to be speeding. Whenever you are driving over the speed limit, there are certain risks you face as the driver:

• You can lose control of the vehicle.
• You reduce your capacity to brake within a safe distance behind another vehicle.
• You increase the distance necessary to stop your vehicle safely.
• You decrease the reaction time you need to adjust to sudden changes on the road.
• You expose yourself and your passengers to undue road accident risks and possibly severe damage and injuries.

2. Drunk Driving

Driving under the influence of alcohol is another major cause of fatal road accidents in Australia.

Alcohol affects your ability to control movement, dulls your reflexes, interferes with proper eye coordination that can lead to miscalculations and reckless driving. Insisting on driving after ingesting alcohol not only puts your passengers at risk but also other drivers, pedestrians, and property.

In Western Australia, a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.05% is the general limit. However, certain drivers in WA adhere to a 0.00% BAC limit.

The 0.00%  BAC limit applies to drivers who should not have any alcohol at all while driving, such as probationary or new drivers, drivers transporting dangerous goods, and alcohol offenders.

3. Failing to Give Way on Perth Roads

As published in The West Australian and based on the annual AAMI Crash Index, Perth’s most notorious crash site is the Great Eastern Highway in Midland, where 37% of drivers crash for failing to give way.

Failing to give way is a traffic offense that stems from not observing common road courtesy:

• At intersections when traffic lights are not working, or there is no stop sign or give way sign
• When pedestrians are rushing to cross even as the traffic lights are flashing yellow
• When there is a clear give way sign
• When you are changing lanes
• Giving way to other vehicles or pedestrians requires very little; just some patience. But by not practising basic road courtesy, you can endanger your life and that of other people.

4. Fatigue and Drowsiness

When you’re tired but drive anyway, the effect is similar to that of driving while under the influence of alcohol, so your reaction time and awareness of road hazards and traffic signs are reduced significantly.

If you miss more than 20 hours of sleep and then drive, you’ll be driving like someone with a BAC of 0.08%, so you have a higher likelihood of getting involved in a car crash.

People who continually miss sleep sometimes experience microsleep episodes – those brief, involuntary periods of inattention while driving. You can experience microsleep in a span of 4 or 5 seconds, and if these happen at highway speed and you crash, your vehicle can travel the length of an entire football field.

5. Distracted Driving

The improper use of mobile phones is a major cause of distracted driving. Drivers who get distracted by their phones are not only putting their lives at risk, but also the lives of other drivers and pedestrians.

When you are busy texting, talking, or looking at your mobile phone, your attention shifts from the road and everything else that’s going on around you. When you’re distracted, you’re likely to ignore stop signs and other traffic signs, so you risk colliding with another vehicle, an object on the road, or a pedestrian.

Other causes of distraction include eating, arguing, or conversing with a passenger and minding kids or pets in the back seat while driving.

6. Car Accidents from Vehicle Defects

Problems with the vehicle can also add to the risks of driving. Defective brakes, a faulty ignition switch, or wheel alignment issues can individually contribute to a fatal car accident or road crash.

If your vehicle is due for servicing or repair, these are things you need to stay on top of to ensure your ride is safe.

We all know those road accidents are one of the leading causes of death in the world. In our next articles, we’ll be discussing each of these to have in-depth knowledge of the causes of road accidents.

Source:

https://eclipsedrivingschool.com.au/blog/road-accidents-australia/

https://www.bitre.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/road_trauma_2021.pdf