Motor vehicle collisions occur every minute of the day, worldwide. In Australia, 600,000 road crashes lead to more than 200,000 injuries annually, more than 22,000 of those injuries serious enough to warrant long-term treatment. Tragically, a recent Australia Accidents Infographic reported that approximately 1,700 Aussies die in roadway accidents each year.
Careless drivers pose a tremendous threat to the safety of Australians across the country. Here is a look at the Top 5 reasons car accidents occur in the land Down Under.
Tailgating: The most common cause of crashes and responsible for 8.36% of reported accidents. Tailgating happens when a car in front of another suddenly slows or stops, leaving no room for cars behind it to slow or brake to prevent a collision.
Drunk driving: Among the leading causes of fatalities and greatest risk to pedestrians in Australia. According to the Government of South Australia, nearly one-third of drivers and passengers killed on the road annually have a blood alcohol concentration more than three times the legal limit of 0.05. Approximately 40% of fatalities in accidents cite alcohol or drug use as a primary cause. 42% of pedestrian fatalities are caused by drivers with a BAC over 0.05.
Speed: Driving recklessly constitutes 27% of fatal motor vehicle crashes in Australia. In 2012, 282 deaths in Victoria occurred due to excessive speed. These crashes and their statistics could be reduced if drivers would slow to 5 kilometers per hour or less. Traveling at this speed drastically reduces the potential for fatalities and seriously bodily injuries.
Texting and driving: All forms of mobile phone usage (e.g. talking, texting, mobile gaming, photos and video, and the use of any other phone function) while driving are illegal in Australia. Yet, 25% of Queensland drivers have used their phones to send and answer calls and texts; 14% use their phones on a daily basis while driving. 32% of all road deaths and collisions in Western Australia are caused by mobile distractions and 46% of teens report using their phones while on the road.
Fatigue: Results in nearly 30% of all road deaths in Australia and a higher degree of serious, debilitating injuries. Despite rest stops and “Driver Reviver” sites, 20-30% of Aussie crashes annually are due to fatigued or sleep deprived drivers.
