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 here.

Roads and Traffic Authority (2007). Road traffic accidents in NSW – 2006 statistical statement: Year ended 31 December 2006. RTA, Haymarket, NSW, available here.