The 2007 toll of 445 fatalities was the lowest loss of life on the roads since World War Two and a 10 per cent reduction on last year’s figure.
This is the fifth consecutive year the road toll has reduced, despite a steady increase in traffic on our roads.
Since 1945, our population has doubled and vehicle numbers are thirteen times higher. However, the toll has only increased by eight per cent over more than 60 years. This year’s fatality per population rate is the lowest since records began in 1908.
However, whilst there have been these commendable reductions in road trauma in New South Wales over the past two decades, road crashes still cause more than 400 deaths and 25,000 injuries each year on our roads. Apart from the suffering of victims and their loved ones, the financial cost to our community is around $3.7 billion each year.
With the key objective of halving the road toll by 2010, the State Government has developed the Road Safety 2010 ten-year strategic framework. Road Safety 2010 promotes strategies in the key areas of Safer People, Safer Roads, Safer Vehicles and Community Based Action.
As the lead agency for road safety in New South Wales, the RTA continues to play a fundamental role in delivering programs designed to reduce road deaths and injuries.
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