In 2024 road fatalities in NSW rural & regional areas continue to outnumber those in metropolitan areas - at least 24 of these deaths occurred in the Northern river region

In 2024 from 1 January through to 23 October Transport NSW preliminary road fatality data recorded 245 fatal vehicle crashes across the state which caused 273 deaths - 20 of which occurred in the first 23 days of October.

The number of drivers killed outnumbered the combined total of passengers, pedestrians, motorcyclists & cyclists (139 to 134). While males far out number females among the dead (217 to 56). The largest road fatality by age cohort was the those 70 years of age and older.

Fatalities in country areas continue to outnumber those in metropolitan areas - 181 deaths on rural and regional roads compared to 92 deaths on metropolitan roads.

Up to the end of September this year the Australian Road Deaths Database revealed that NSW road fatalities included 24 deaths on Northern Rivers roads:

Clarence Valley - 8 people

Ballina Shire - 5 people

Tweed Shire - 4 people

Richmond Valley - 3 people

Lismore City - 3 people

Byron Shire - 1 person

Kyogle Shire - 0 persons.

NSW road fatalities in 2024 are way too high for humans and rising too quickly for wildlife in this state

 

It will probably come as no surprise that in 2024 to 1st August the NSW Road Toll Statistics showed 208 fatalities predominately on regional roads. 

With more fatalities being drivers of a vehicle, more male than female fatalities and, the age group which consistently has the highest number of road fatalities is the 70+ years. [Transport NSW, June 2024] 

Sadly, New South Wales is not having much success at lowering the number of road fatalities to date.

What you may not know is that when it comes to reported wildlife fatalities on New South Wales roads over the same period, the death toll is conservatively estimated to be in the vicinity ten thousand and rising. 

With the drivers of the vehicles involved in collisions with an animals most likely to be middle aged males, (between 45-54, followed closely by 55-64), possibly driving a Toyota Landcruiser, Toyota Hilux, Ford Ranger, Toyota Corolla or Holden Commodore. [AMMI, August 2024]

Click on tables and graph to enlarge

SEE: https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/system/files/media/documents/2024/nsw-road-toll-daily-20240802-2.pdf

AAMI, media release, 6 June 2024, excerpts:

Animal collisions have increased by 22 per cent year-on-year according to new claims data from national insurer AAMI....

- New alarming research from AAMI found more than 40 per cent of Aussie drivers don’t pay attention to wildlife warning signs....

- More than half (54 per cent) of Aussie drivers have been involved in an animal collision, with the majority of these occurring on rural and regional roads.....

- NSW is the most dangerous state for wildlife collisions (30 per cent), followed by VIC (29 per cent) and QLD (24 per cent). In the previous two years, VIC was the most dangerous, followed by NSW and QLD.

- Dubbo in New South Wales holds the dubious title of Australia’s worst animal collision hotspot, followed by Sunbury in Victoria and Goulburn in New South Wales.

- The animal species involved in most crashes are; kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, deer, dogs, cows, emus, pigs, fox and rabbit*.

- In Australia, the cooler months are the worst time of year for animal collisions, with more than a quarter (28 per cent) of road accidents involving wildlife taking place between June to August. Almost 60 per cent (58 per cent) of all animal collisions occur between May and October.

- Dusk is the most dangerous time for animal collisions, with a quarter of accidents occurring from 4:30pm- 8pm.

- Animal collisions can be costly, with the average cost of an insurance claim greater than $5,000.

- In around 16 per cent of claims involving an animal in the last year alone, the damage to the vehicle was so severe, the car was written off.

- Saturday is the worst day of the week for wildlife related road accidents – with almost one third (31 per cent) of incidents taking place over the weekend (Saturday and Sunday).

• Male drivers and those middle aged (between 45-

54, followed closely by 55-64) are most likely to find

themselves in a collision with an animal.

• Cars most likely to be involved in an animal collision are:

➢ Toyota Landcruiser

➢ Toyota Hilux

➢ Ford Ranger

➢ Toyota Corolla

➢ Holden Commodore

• White vehicles, followed by grey and silver are most likely to collide with an animal.