Key Statistics
- Injury is the single biggest killer of Australian youth; more than all other causes combined
- 45 per cent of all young Australian injury deaths are due to road traffic crashes
- The injury death rate for Indigenous youth is 5 times greater than for non-Indigenous youth
- Of all hospitalisations of young Australians, almost half are drivers involved in a road traffic crash and another quarter are passengers
- Young drivers (17-25 years) represent one-quarter of all Australian road deaths, but are only 10-15% of the licensed driver population
- A 17 year old driver with a P1 licence is four times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than a driver over 26 years
- The biggest killer of young drivers is speeding and around 80 per cent of those killed are male
- One-third of all speeding drivers and rider in fatal crashes are males aged 17-25; 6 per cent are females aged 17-25
References
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2007). Young Australians: their health and wellbeing. Cat. no. PHE 87. 2006, Canberra: AIHW [available at: http://www.aihw.gov.au/publications/index.cfm/title/10451].
Roads and Traffic Authority (2007). Road traffic accidents in NSW – 2006 statistical statement: Year ended 31 December 2006. RTA, Haymarket, NSW [available at: http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/roadsafety/downloads/accident_statistics_dl4.html]
