Road toll statistics are continuing to improve, with the latest release from the Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics (BITRE) showing a total of 102 road deaths occurring during May 2014.
This figure is 14.4 per cent lower compared to the average for May over the past five years, indicating a positive trend in road safety across Australia. In total, the 12 month period ending in May saw 1,176 road deaths, down 7.8 per cent compared to the previous year ending in May 2013.
That brings the annual rate to 5.1 road-related deaths per 100,000 people, another fall of 9.3 per cent compared to the previous year.
Of the road deaths that occurred in Australia over the 12 months ending in May 2014, 358 were in New South Wales. This was the highest out of all the states and territories, but it was a reduction of 4.7 per cent compared to the previous. Victoria had the next highest fatality rate in this period (251), followed by Queensland (226), Western Australia (157), South Australia (95), the Northern Territory (43), Tasmania (39) and the Australian Capital Territory (7).
While the number of road fatalities has fallen compared to previous years, there is still more that could be done to improve the statistics even further. Every road incident affects families, communities and the wider economy, and we all have a part to play in reducing the numbers as much as possible.
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