It might surprise some of our members to learn that there were more fatalities on regional roads in NSW and the ACT than in their major cities. Let’s explore why and what drivers can do to make regional roads safer.
In the three-year period between 2021–2023, more road fatalities were recorded in regional NSW and ACT than in their major cities, despite these regional areas accounting for only 24.6 per cent of their population (at the 2021 census). Of the 935 total road deaths recorded during this time, 597 – or 64 per cent – took place in ‘regional’ NSW and ACT, which includes ‘inner regional’, ‘outer regional’, ‘remote’ and ’very remote’ area distinctions.
Regional roads are more deadly, but why?
Crashes on regional roads are more likely to be deadly than urban areas for one main reason: they have higher average speed limits.
The likelihood of an accident becoming fatal increases with speed, which is why urban areas tend to have more incidents occasioning injury (but not death) while crashes resulting in death are over represented in regional areas.
On top of this, regional roads are more likely to have little to no street lighting, undulating and blind corners, fewer road safety treatments (such as crash barricades), wildlife and poorer road quality.
NSW road crash fatalities per 100,000 population by Remoteness Areas
| Major Cities | Inner Regional | Outer Regional | Remote | Very Remote | Weighted Average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Census population NSW | 6,080,428 | 1,569,737 | 377,693 | 26,219 | 6,708 | 8,060,785 |
| 2021 | 1.6 | 6.6 | 19.3 | 30.5 | 0.0 | 3.5 |
| 2022 | 2.0 | 6.9 |
15.9 | 22.9 | 59.6 | 3.7 |
| 2023 | 2.0 | 9.4 | 20.9 | 19.1 | 29.8 | 4.4 |
Total NSW road crash fatalities by Remoteness Areas
| Major Cities | Inner Regional | Outer Regional | Remote | Very Remote | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Census population NSW | 6,080,428 | 1,569,737 | 377,693 | 26,219 | 6,708 | 8,060,785 |
| 2021 | 96 | 103 | 73 | 8 | 0 | 280 |
| 2022 | 120 | 109 | 60 | 6 | 4 | 299 |
| 2023 | 122 | 148 | 79 | 5 | 2 | 356 |
| Total | 338 | 360 | 212 | 19 | 6 | 935 |
Source data: Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications, and the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
The crash data indicates that as a road become more remote, its fatality rate increases. This increase becomes even more pronounced when adjusted for deaths per capita, with outer regional NSW experiencing about ten times as many deadly accidents as the states' major cities.
While the data highlights the heightened risk on regional roads, it also reveals a resurgence in road crash fatalities across all areas of NSW. Between 2015 to 2019, the average total road crash fatalities in NSW stood at 372 which notably decreased to 285 between 2020 and 2021. This change was primarily due to mobility patterns being significantly altered by various factors such as COVID lockdowns, floods, and fires. These were relatively safe years by historical road safety standards but with the gradual easing of COVID lockdown measures in 2022, the number has begun to climb once more, nearly approaching the pre-COVID average in 2023.
What to keep an eye out for on our regional roads
Adjusted for population, the road death toll is about 4-5 times worse in regional areas compared to urban areas. Whether you are a local driver or planning a road trip, you need to be aware of the dangers of driving on regional roads.
Obey speed limits and look out for signs
Obey speed signs and watch for speed advisories, particularly on corners. Road conditions deteriorate and vary greatly away from the freeways, with many testing the limits of a vehicle’s suspension set-up and road-holding ability. If you don’t know what’s ahead, reducing your speed is a smart move.
Wildlife
Our wildlife – most often kangaroos and wombats – need special consideration. Driving in the early morning and at dusk requires extra vigilance, as many animals graze by the roadside where the grass can be greener due to rain runoff.
Don’t assume a kangaroo will jump away from an oncoming vehicle. They are highly unpredictable and oncoming lights can overwhelm them so they move only at the last instant or not at all. If you spot one and it’s safe to do so, slow your speed, flash your lights, and use your horn. Swerving to avoid an animal on secondary roads increases your chances of running off the bitumen onto the soft edges, making the vehicle harder to control.
If you come across an animal that has been hit, check if it needs help and don't forget to look in the animal's pouch for babies. You can purchase a Wildlife Car Rescue Kit from our partner Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital, which contains everything you need to assist injured wildlife and the location of your nearest wildlife hospital.
Be mindful of headlights
Oncoming headlights, particularly high beam, can dazzle drivers at night. If this happens, lower your eyes and look to the side of your lane rather than straight ahead. It’s something I learned when I first obtained my licence that has stayed with me ever since. Conversely, when encountering oncoming traffic, lower your headlights from high beam to low as soon as it’s safe to do so.
Take a break
This one is chiefly for road-trippers but also applies to locals driving long distances. Due to your body’s circadian rhythms, driving between 10pm and 6am means you’re up to four times more likely to suffer fatigue than during daylight hours. Many vehicles are fitted with alerts that can be set for two-hour intervals. Drivers should heed the warnings and stop and stretch their legs for a few minutes.
Make sure your car is good-to-go
Ensure your vehicle is regularly serviced and correctly inflate the tyres (including the spare) to accommodate any additional loads. Clean the windscreen inside and out, check the wipers and washers, and make sure the headlamps and high beam are working.
