Pedestrians and road safety
Pedestrians comprise the largest single road user group because almost everyone is a pedestrian at some point. People walk for leisure, to go to work, school or local shops, and to access other modes of transport. In Australia, there has been a consistent downward trend in total road fatalities, including pedestrian fatalities. Since 2005, pedestrian fatalities as a percentage of all road fatalities have remained relatively stable.
- Pedestrians and road safety
The impact of airbags and electronic stability control on Australian light vehicle fatalities
This Information Sheet presents estimates of the impact of airbags and electronic stability control (ESC) on fatalities in light vehicle crashes. It is estimated that frontal airbags have reduced light vehicle fatalities by 13 per cent, side airbags have reduced light vehicle fatalities by 4 per cent, and that ESC has reduced light vehicle fatalities by 6 per cent. Together, these measures are estimated to have reduced light vehicle fatalities by 23 per cent. This may account for the equivalent of around half the reduction in the fatality rate, per kilometre travelled, since 2007. The impacts of side airbags and ESC will increase as newer vehicles filter through the fleet.
- The impact of airbags and electronic stability control on Australian light vehicle fatalities
Archived Road Deaths In Crashes Involving Heavy Vehicles—Quarterly Bulletins
Older issues of Road Deaths In Crashes Involving Heavy Vehicles – Quarterly Bulletins are available below.
Formerly entitled ‘Fatal heavy vehicle crashes Australia—Quarterly Bulletins’.
- Apr-Jun 2024
- Jan-Mar 2024
- Oct-Dec 2023
- Jul-Sep 2023
- Apr-Jun 2023
- Jan-Mar 2023
- Oct-Dec 2022
- Jul-Sep 2022
- Apr-Jun 2022
- Jan-Mar 2022
- Oct-Dec 2021
- Jul-Sep 2021
- Apr-Jun 2021
- Jan-Mar 2021
- Oct-Dec 2020
- Jul-Sep 2020
- Apr-Jun 2020
- Jan-Mar 2020
- Oct-Dec 2019
- Jul-Sep 2019
- Apr-Jun 2019
- Jan-Mar 2019
- Oct-Dec 2018
- Jul-Sep 2018
- Apr-Jun 2018
- Jan-Mar 2018
- Oct-Dec 2017
- Jul-Sep 2017
- Apr-Jun 2017
- Jan-Mar 2017
- Oct-Dec 2016
- Jul-Sep 2016
- Apr-Jun 2016
- Jan-Mar 2016
- Oct-Dec 2015
- Jul-Sep 2015
- Apr-Jun 2015
- Jan-Mar 2015
- Oct–Dec 2014
- Jul–Sep 2014
- Apr–Jun 2014
- Jan–Mar 2014
- Oct–Dec 2013
- Jul–Sep 2013
- Apr–Jun 2013
- Jan–Mar 2013
- Oct–Dec 2012
- Jul–Sep 2012
- Apr–Jun 2012
- Jan–Mar 2012
- Oct–Dec 2011
- Jul–Sep 2011
- Apr–Jun 2011
- Jan–Mar 2011
- Oct–Dec 2010
- Jul–Sep 2010
- Apr–Jun 2010
- Jan–Mar 2010
- Oct–Dec 2009
- Jul–Sep 2009
- Apr–Jun 2009
New passenger vehicle fuel consumption trends, 1979 to 2013
The trends evident in BITRE's earlier Information Sheet (BITRE 2009) have continued since 2008. Vehicle sales have increased, with the SUV and LCV categories continuing to increase their shares. With the introduction of compact and more fuel-efficient 4WDs, the growing SUV category has shown a considerable reduction in rated fuel consumption. LCV sales have also been increasing, though not as strongly as SUVs, along with a similarly decreasing level (since about 2006) in rated fuel consumption.
In the past (before 2008), Australian consumers' preference for vehicle characteristics that typically increased fuel consumption (such as higher power, larger size, more accessories or 4WD capability), meant that potential reductions in fuel consumption made possible by technological advances were not fully realised. This has been a worldwide trend in the automobile sector. However, that said, the long-term downward trend in energy intensity has increased in recent years as the latest generation of more fuel efficient light vehicles (including hybrids) entered the market, and with some buyers moving to smaller vehicles as petrol prices rose. The result has been a marked acceleration, over recent years, of the downward trend in the rated fuel consumption (tested L/100km) of new vehicles sold.
- New passenger vehicle fuel consumption trends, 1979 to 2013
BITRE Road Construction and Maintenance Price Index—2014 update
This Information Sheet presents the quarterly Road Construction and Maintenance Price Index figures for the year 2013–14. Additionally, it presents sub-indexes by activity type for road maintenance and road construction, and by road type for local sealed, local unsealed, and arterial roads.
- BITRE Road Construction and Maintenance Price Index–2014 update
Impact of road trauma and measures to improve outcomes
Report 140 presents the results of a BITRE review of the impacts of road trauma. This review evaluated different road safety approaches, both internationally and domestically, and provided a timely stock take of ways that road safety experts believe deaths and serious injuries on our roads can be reduced.
Internationally, the annual number of road deaths fell nearly 40 per cent between 2000 and 2012. However, there has been limited success in saving lives among vulnerable road users, and the share of fatalities among elderly road users is slowly increasing in many countries.
In 2008, International Transport Forum and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development published a research report Towards Zero: ambitious road safety targets and the Safe System approach, which was the first international effort in defining and promoting the adoption by all countries of a Safe System approach.
Australia was amongst the first to adopt a Safe System approach, which underpins the National Road Safety Strategy 2011–2020 (NRSS).
In Australia significant progress has been made towards the NRSS target of a 30 per cent reduction in casualties. While vehicle occupant deaths have trended down, the analysis confirms the relatively high risk for motorcyclists, pedal cyclists, older drivers and remote communities. This, combined with population increases, makes the search for new ways to further reduce road trauma even more challenging.
BITRE has focused on four priorities identified by road safety experts: infrastructure, intersections, distraction from mobile phones, and autonomous emergency braking. The report found:
- Roadside barriers, median barriers and rumble strips reduce road trauma. To maximise road safety benefits they need to be implemented taking account of road conditions.
- Lower speed limits can be a valuable option to help achieve improved road safety outcomes where low traffic volumes mean upgrades are not currently economically justified.
- Intersection treatments can be very effective, with roundabouts particularly effective–reducing casualty crashes by over 70 per cent.
- There is value in a comprehensive mobile phone strategy.
- Autonomous emergency braking will save lives as it is introduced to the vehicle fleet.
The Bureau is grateful for the help of road safety experts who participated in both the survey and workshop to identify new measures with the most potential to further reduce road trauma.
- Impact of road trauma and measures to improve outcomes
Traffic on the national road network, 2011–12
This Information Sheet presents recent road traffic volumes across the Australian National Land Transport Network in 2011–12, based on data provided by States and Territories. It includes charts showing volumes of heavy and light vehicle traffic for all 21 non-urban corridors, and maps for the urban corridors.
- Traffic on the national road network, 2011–12
Australian road freight estimates: 2014 update
This information sheet provides updated road freight estimates previously reported in Chapter 2 of BITRE Research Report 121. It gives estimates for interstate, intrastate, capital city and total road freight for each state/territory for the period between 1971–72 and 2012–13.
- Australian road freight estimates: 2014 update
Who's using the roads: variations in usage by drivers
This information sheet presents estimates of the variation in use of roads by drivers.
It finds that road use is highly unequally distributed among motorists, with most vehicles driven relatively low distances while a few drive long distances. The uneven distribution is particularly pronounced for motorcycles and 'other' trucks.
- Who's using the roads: variations in usage by drivers
Road safety of older Australians: recent statistics
This information sheet collates the latest available national data on casualty road crashes involving older Australians.
Population data in Table 3 was amended in January 2016.
- Road safety of older Australians: recent statistics