Groups at higher risk of death or injury
The NT Report has identified three groups that are at particular risk:
New and young drivers
The NT’s licensing system permits unrestricted driving at the youngest age among all Australian states and territories. The Territory has the least-restrictive system.
What should change
- A Graduated Driver Licensing system should be introduced in two phases to allow time to raise public awareness and to take into account the special needs of remote communities.
- Phase one would include:
- A minimum 12-month learner period for all drivers and motorcycle riders under 25
- No mobile phone use during learner and provisional periods
- Double the penalty for driving without L or P plate to $100.
- Phase two could include:
- Minimum supervised driving hours during learner phase
- Limits on night driving and the number of young passengers.
Visitors
Visitors accounted for 20% of fatalities and 19% of serious injuries in the NT from 2000 to 2005. The most frequent crash type was single vehicle crashes in rural areas. Interstate and international visitors were equally represented in the driver fatalities.
What should change
Building on existing information programs, signage and/or road surface marking should be installed on routes with high international visitor traffic. This should help reduce disorientation.
Indigenous residents
Environmental and socio-economic factors that contribute to Indigenous Territorian crash statistics include:
- 75% of Indigenous Territorians live in remote communities, travelling long distances, often on open roads of poorer quality.
- Rates of vehicle ownership are lower, leading to overcrowding and less seatbelt use.
- Access to public transport is very limited.
- Access to appropriate driver training and supervision is limited.
- Remoteness of communities means that in the event of a crash, medical treatment may be delayed.
What should change
- Road safety education programs need community backing. A pilot program of four community-based road safety officer positions should be created – two in remote communities in the Top End and two in remote communities in Central Australia.
- The officers would:
- work with communities and community councils to make road safety a priority
- help with community programs and campaigns
- help develop community-based road safety education and awareness
- provide an additional resource for learner driver supervision and the coordination of driver training courses.
- Remote Area Traffic Patrols should be established in Katherine and Alice Springs to increase remote area enforcement.
More information:  Page 14 - 17, Key Findings
Download the full NT Road Safety Report - Key Findings
Download the full report of the NT Road Safety Taskforce
|
