[Jan Fisher]

Australia is falling behind on its road safety targets and looks set to miss a target to halve road deaths by 2030.

According to the Australian Automobile Association (AAA), the latest quarterly figures show governments remain unable to meet most of their agreed targets and in fact road deaths are increasing instead of declining.

The National Road Safety Strategy review states 1205 people died on Australian roads in the 12 months to June 2023, a 3.2 per cent rise on the previous corresponding period.

AAA managing director Michael Bradley says cars have never been safer and road funding higher, yet fatalities continue to climb.

“A new approach is needed, starting with national statistics to guide law enforcement, road investment, and policy change.”

Why do you think the road toll is rising?

[gnome]

After I spent 3 months driving around in Europe Ireland, England, France, Germany, and Denmark, I had become a better driver, more alert and much more aware of what was happening around me. With a background of commuting on a pushbike, lots of travel in Australia riding Motorcycles (hit twice by cars), towing trailers and caravans, long overnight trips from the Hunter Valley to the Sunshine Coast, Melbourne and Adelaide I thought I was a competent driver. I use an ebike to do a 20km round trip twice a week. We do need a refresher depending on our driving record at least every 10 years. Aged 75 now I am more cautious than I was at 20. Also, those long night drives have ceased and I try to restrict travel to 4hr to 6hr days with breaks and driver changes. Time becomes much more flexible in retirement.

[Roger Seccombe]

1. Because life – including driving – is becoming more and more stressful;
2. Because governments, for decades, have ‘chickened out’ – won’t make your licence a ‘privilege’ rather than a ‘right’.
80% of drivers consider themselves ‘above average’ but most are ‘habit drive’. Hence they are NOT good drivers. Those (few) who ‘work it out’ become ‘thinking drivers’ and hence are more capable of avoiding the idiots and emergencies.
The UK commenced ‘advanced driving’ courses in the 1930.s.
Aus tried in the 1960.s – Society of Advanced Motorists – but were actively ‘discouraged’ by politicians in the 1990.s.

[Author]

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