Shocking data reveals regional road toll as government mulls over new anti-speeding measures

Fatalities on bush roads accounted for more than 800 deaths in 2023. The biggest portion of national fatalities was in NSW, where the government is considering a trial to curb speeding.

A staggering two-thirds of road deaths are happening in Australia’s regions with more than 800 Australians dying on bush roads in 2023.

It comes as the Minns government did not rule out a regional trial of average safety speed cameras for cars and other lighter vehicles.

The proposal was raised at the government’s recent road safety summit and sources said there was “talk within the government” about a potential trial in regional NSW.

The speed cameras, that monitor your speed over a period of time to determine the average speed, are currently used only for heavy vehicles.

Of the 1262 people who died on Australian roads in 2023, 821 died in regional areas compared to 441 in the cities, analysis of Australian Bureau of Statistics data by the Australian Automobiles Association shows.

Erwin and Diane Balsar lost their son Scott in January allegedly due to a drunk speeding driver. Picture: Jane Dempster

NSW had the biggest portion of national fatalities, with 232 deaths in the regions and 113 in the cities.

AAA managing director Michael Bradley said the trend was devastating.

“That’s a devastating and unacceptable fact that demands action from politicians,” he said.

“State and territory governments must release more data about the causes of crashes, the condition of roads and the effectiveness of police traffic enforcement so we can understand why Australians are more than four times more likely to die on driving on regional roads than in cities.

“That data must be made public so Australians can judge for themselves whether politicians are spending scarce public money where it can have the greatest effect in saving lives.”

Erwin and Diane Balsar lost their 48-year-old son Scott in Nowra in January this year.

The alleged crash saw a Meroo Meadow man charged with dangerous driving occasioning death, dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, negligent driving occasioning death, negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm and driving a motor vehicle with a suspended licence.

Photo of Scott Balsar (48) who died in January. Picture: Jane Dempster

Mr Balsar was accompanied by his 10-year-old son Elijah who had to be flown to Sydney for treatment.

His parents want the government to do more to stop speeding in the regions.

“I know these things happen every day. You look at the news and think of another family suffering,” Mr Balsar said.

“Everyday no matter where you go, speed is one of the biggest killers … The law is not handed down like it should be.”

Mr Balsar said speeding was an “endless chain” in regional communities.

“Where I live they just race up and down the streets … It scares me,” he said.

“He was a part of me, it’s like half of me is gone.”

When asked if the state government was considering a trial of average speed safety cameras in the regions, a spokeswoman did not rule it out.

“It is of great concern to the NSW Government that two-thirds of road deaths happen in regional areas when just one-third of the state’s population lives in the regions,” she said.

“Sadly, speeding is the single biggest contributor to death and injury on NSW roads, contributing to about 41 per cent of road fatalities each year.”

The government has recently introduced a string of new measures to curb speeding including new seatbelt monitoring cameras.

Originally published as Shocking data reveals regional road toll as government mulls over new anti-speeding measures