Major Crash Unit reveals 2024 road death statistics
The majority of deaths on Territorian roads this year have involved alcohol or drugs, authorities have revealed, while 92 per cent of pedestrian deaths were Indigenous. Details.
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The majority of deaths on Northern Territory roads this year have involved alcohol or drugs, authorities have revealed.
Of the 53 lives lost on the NT’s roads, the Major Crash Unit has released the statistics concerning the first 52 deaths.
The statistics show alcohol and drugs were linked to a whopping 71 per cent of deaths, with speed accounting for 35 per cent.
Detective Senior Sergeant Richard Musgrave said alcohol was the primary driver behind deaths on the road.
“Unfortunately, alcohol related harm is a huge social issue impacting the entire Northern Territory,” he said.
“Alcohol is a known catalyst for everything from domestic and family violence, property crime and road fatalities.”
Men made up 67 per cent of the 52 deaths.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders also dominated the numbers, with 58 per cent of those who died being First Nations people.
Of note, 92 per cent of pedestrian deaths were Indigenous.
The skyrocketing number of tragedies follow the NT Police’s warnings around the ‘fatal five’, which consist of alcohol and drugs, speed, inattention, fatigue and not wearing seatbelts.
In June, Commander Danny Bacon said authorities had noticed a rise of fatal-five related deaths.
“I’m not sure in regards to why we’re seeing those numbers here, but there a lot more risks being taken by road users,” he said at the time.
“Police are around the roads a lot more these days, a lot more random breath testing, and a lot more speed detection, so it’s not a case of police aren’t out there doing enforcement.”
In August, Sergeant Musgrave narrowed the primary problem down to intoxication.
“Alcohol is at the base of the majority, by far the majority, of our crashes, be it driver or pedestrian based,” he told this masthead.
“Seat belts is definitely another huge issue we face – for some reason, people just aren’t wearing seat belts.
“People honestly think it’ll never happen to me.”
His colleague, Superintendent Wood, said change depended on the “community’s attitudes”.
“Police will do what they can do with the legislative power that they’ve been awarded, but it comes down to the drivers making those decisions.
“The community is currently complacent.”
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Originally published as Major Crash Unit reveals 2024 road death statistics
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