Middle-aged blokes the biggest hazard on NSW’s roads, statistics reveal
There’s an alarming trend that has seen one section of the population become, for the first time, the biggest contributor towards crashes that kill at least one person — and it’s probably not the one you think.
NSW
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MIDDLE-AGED men are the deadliest drivers on NSW roads and are now involved in more fatal crashes than P-platers and young revheads.
For the first time, drivers aged 40-49 make up the biggest group in crashes that kill at least one person, in a rising toll that has deeply alarmed road safety chiefs.
In the past year 105 drivers in their 40s were involved in fatal crashes, outnumbering 17- to 25-year-olds traditionally labelled the greatest menace.
Researchers found most middle-aged men have an inflated view of their driving skills.
They admit to driving safely when they are with their families but take risks when driving alone.
A further 152 mature drivers, 79 in the 30-39 age group and 73 aged 50-59, added to the carnage.
EXPLAINER: The Think and Drive campaign
Daily Telegraph Editorial: Warning, middle-aged man at wheel
Younger drivers were involved in 94 fatal crashes last year but the number of young drivers killed on the roads has plummeted by 50 per cent since a graduated licensing scheme was launched in 2000.
The shocking statistics also show there is a death or serious injury on state roads every 41 minutes.
Speed is still the biggest single factor in the road toll, which last year hit 392. The toll was 12 more than 2016 and the country’s highest.
Up to 167 lives could have been saved last year if people had simply slowed down.
But 75 people also died in 2017 in crashes where the driver was fatigued. Almost 90 per cent of these were on country roads.
Centre for Road Safety executive director Bernard Carlon said drivers of all ages were taking unnecessary risks.
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“Mature men say they don’t tend to take risks when they have the family in the car but when they’re on their own they think it is OK,” he said.
The statistics reveal male deaths in car crashes outnumber female deaths by 274 to 118. The death toll continued to rise early this year. In the first five months it reached 151 — 10 more than at the same time last year.
Mr Carlon said most road deaths were drivers and most occurred in country areas.
“A lot of our fatal crashes (92) were people running off the road on a curve and hitting a wall or tree … or even more tragically run across the side of the road and ended up in a head-on crash,” he said.
“There is a misconception about the speeds at which fatal crashes happen, 121 happened in 100kmh zones … but 119 were in 60km/h speed zones and under.”
Road safety experts said a car travelling at 65km/h was twice as likely to be involved in a casualty crash as a car travelling at 60km/h.
WHAT DO DRIVERS THINK?
Steve Philp, 42, said he wasn’t surprised men his age are responsible for so many crashes.
“Men feel like they’re the greatest drivers in the world,” he said.
“I absolutely am at my best (when the family is in the car) … I don’t want the wrath of my wife.”
Veronica Tannous, 19, does not fit the stereotype of a risk-taking P-plater and says she’s a “very safe and responsible driver”.
“I’m very aware of what’s around me and I don’t try to take risks.”
Plumber Jon Tsingolis, 28, sees a lot of bad behaviour in his six days a week on the road.
“I’ve seen massive accidents and had people crashing into me. In the mornings on the freeway they swerve in and out of traffic.”
Graham Huddy, 76, says his driving is “average” but he no longer drives into the city.
Velda McGee, 79, also won’t drive in the city due to Sydney’s aggressive drivers.
Meanwhile mum Natalie Urban, 35, says she’s a confident driver and feels happy driving with Max, 18 months, in the car.