Road safety research: Drivers admit to risky behaviours
New research shows drivers admit to risky behaviours even with their own kids in the car, particularly on regional roads. The toll of crash death and injury to the under 16s make you shudder.
The Australian Road Safety Foundation has emplored drivers to choose road safety, after many admitted to risky driving behaviour in new research.
Despite road trauma being the number one killer of children aged 14 and under, and
the second highest killer of young people aged under 24, the research has put the
spotlight on the dangerous behaviours of regional drivers and the need for further
education.
Released by the Australian Road Safety Foundation in the lead up to Fatality Free
Friday this Friday (May 30), the research reveals that not even having children in the car is
a deterrent for the region’s drivers taking risks on the road.
Worryingly, one in three regional New South Wales parents admit to breaking road laws
or undertaking risky behaviour when their own children are in the car. Added to this,
one in five of the region’s parents admit to taking the same risks when driving a
vehicle occupied by someone else’s children.
What’s more, one quarter of regional New South Wales drivers admit to driving under
the influence of drugs or alcohol, while one in three admit to speeding on a regular
basis.
ALARMING STATS
However, the Centre for Road Safety statistics for the period between 2013-2017 show areas like the Central Coast, and Sydney’s suburbs, also have a bleak record for road crashes involving children aged 0 to 16.
The Central Coast ranked third worst for all crashes and all kinds of injuries with
250 over the five year period, behind Canterbury-Bankstown on 347 and Blacktown on
259. Liverpool recorded 215 and Cumberland 199.
Focusing on death or serious injury to children aged 0-16 in the same period, the
statistics put Blacktown in top spot with 100, Central Coast second with 86, and
Canterbury Bankstown on 81. Penrith followed with 69 dead or seriously injured and
Cumberland on 59.
Tragically, the Central Coast recorded the highest number of child deaths in the 0-16
age range between 2013 and 2017 with six fatalities. Dubbo region recorded 5 with
Blacktown, Cumberland and Lake Macquarie all on 3.
STAMP IT OUT
Australian Road Safety Foundation founder and CEO Russell White said risky road behaviour, for parents and non-parents alike continued to climb when driving solo — no matter who was waiting for them at home.
“While parents are most guilty of bad behaviour with children in the car, the
majority of rural drivers seem to believe it is acceptable to take even greater risks
if it’s just themselves in the car,” Mr White said.
“The research shows that when we’re driving alone, the likelihood of taking a risk
increases by roughly 20 per cent, with men more likely than women to take risks on
the road.
“However, the stark reality is that any time you take a risk behind the wheel, you
are putting the lives of every motorist, passenger, cyclist and pedestrian around you
at risk.
“It’s imperative we stamp out the idea that it’s just drivers who suffer the
consequences of road risk taking. There’s no room for complacency and all lives must
be top of mind for road users.”
The research has been released as the foundation calls on individuals to make their
Fatality Free Friday pledge online or at one of the many public signing events across
the country.
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