International Road Safety Comparisons—Annual

International Road Safety Comparison report 2017 cover image
Publication Subject(s)
road
road deaths australia
safety
Publication Type
Statistical Report
Department ID
2019/INFRA4066
ISBN
978-1-925843-28-6
ISSN
1447-8218
Release date

This report presents tabulations of road deaths and road death rates for Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) nations and Australian states and territories. The rates allow for a comparison of Australia's road safety performance with that of other OECD nations by accounting for the differing levels of populations, motorisation and distances travelled.

Fatalities per 100,000 population is the measure specified in the UN Sustainable Development Goals (Indicator 3.61) to monitor road crash trauma.

2017: At a glance

  • In terms of the fatality rate per 100,000 population: Australia’s rate of 4.98 in 2017 (down from 5.34 in 2016) was the 17th lowest rate out of the 35 nations. Between 2008 and 2017 Australia’s fatality rate per 100,000 population declined by 26.4 per cent. Over the same period, the OECD median rate declined by 32.3 per cent.
  • In terms of the fatality rate per 10,000 registered vehicles in 2017: Australia’s rate of 0.65 in 2017 was the 15th lowest rate out of the 27 nations.
  • In terms of the fatality rate per 100 million vehicle kilometres travelled: Australia’s rate of 0.47 was the 11th lowest rate out of 22 nations.
  • In terms of the fatality rate per 10,000 licence holders: Australia’s rate of 0.70 was the 9th lowest rate out of 18 nations. Between 2010 and 2017 Australia’s fatality rate per 10,000 licence holders declined by 20.2 per cent. Over the same period, OECD median rate declined by 26.7 per cent.
A bar chart showing road deaths per 100,000 population for OECD nations and Australian states/territories, 2017

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