1 month ago
37
An analysis of the latest road toll figures has shown deaths on South Australian roads are affecting one age group more than most.
Almost half of those killed on South Australian roads so far this year were over the age of 60, new data has shown.
An analysis of crash data by the Royal Automobile Association (RAA) has revealed of the 80 people who lost their lives on the state’s roads from the start of the year until 20 November, 37 were aged 60 or older.
The figures, collated by South Australia Police, also show the 2024 statistic is also higher than the five-year average of 31 per cent, and the number of serious injuries is high too – with 734 so far this year.
According to the RAA, the higher road toll means the state is not on track to meet its 2031 safety targets of fewer than 80 deaths and less than 639 serious injuries per year.
Ahead of the school holiday period coming up, the RAA is warning drivers to be vigilant.
“At RAA we want to advocate for safer communities through safer roads and safer drivers,” the RAA’s Senior Manager for Road Safety, Charles Mountain, said.
“The number of people losing their lives on our roads every year or sustaining serious injuries with life-long consequences is tragic and cause for serious concern.
“Despite the fact the number of fatal crashes this year is lower than last year, there is still a concerning trend in the wrong direction since the late-2010s, and serious injuries have increased dramatically since then.
“With an aging population, we’re seeing more older road users losing their lives on the road, which reminds everyone to look out for any older family members over the next few months.”
So far in 2024 the greatest number of people killed on the roads has been in New South Wales, though the highest increase has been in the Australian Capital Territory.
A born-and-bred newshound, Kathryn has worked her way up through the ranks reporting for, and later editing, two renowned UK regional newspapers and websites, before moving on to join the digital newsdesk of one of the world’s most popular newspapers – The Sun. More recently, she’s done a short stint in PR in the not-for-profit sector, and led the news team at Wheels Media.
