This report shows that country road casualties are disproportionately more numerous per population and more severe than in Melbourne. For the decade 1994 to 2003, the annual fatality rate per 100,000 population in country Victoria was more than twice the rate for Melbourne. The lowest fatality rate on country roads, of 13.1 per 100,000 population, occurred in 1998. In 2004 it was 14. Crashes have become a common characteristic of country roads, and are scattered across the country road network. The unfair burden of trauma on country people has been more so for those travelling in rural areas outside towns, where more than two-thirds of casualty crashes occur. Fatalities and serious injuries on rural roads were found to be significantly more than the State averages. The report contains 70 recommendations covering a range of issues including the need for a country safety strategy, improvements to road systems and infrastructure, speed, fatigue, inattention, alcohol, vehicle issues and enforcement.
Samenvatting