Unfortunately, Australia is a country where incidents of road fatalities seem to be on the rise.
According to Cars Guide, 1303 fatal car accidents occurred on Aussie roads between May 2023 and May 2024, a rise of more than 10% from the previous 12 months.
For most Australians, particularly those who live in rural areas without extensive public transport links, driving is an integral part of everyday life.
Here are 6 ways to be a safer driver, which will reduce your risk of being involved in a serious, even deadly, accident on the road.
So, how then can you ensure you protect not only yourself but also your family, mates, and anyone else on the road once you pass your driving test?
Article Summary
Car Accident Statistics
While Australia has one of the strictest safety standards and road rules in the world, this doesn’t stop it from having its fair share of fatal accidents.
You might not be surprised to discover that the age group that suffers the most fatalities is young people aged 17 to 25.
They are involved in accidents that result in over a third of all deaths on the road. Of them, 80% of all young drivers who die are male.
Statistics show that the most dangerous time to drive is between the hours of 7 pm and 10 pm.
This time slot is responsible for 34% of all road deaths in Australia. The safest time, with only 9% of fatal incidents, is between 6 am and 9 am.
Overall, 65% of all road deaths occur in regional and remote areas.
What Are the Main Causes of Car Accidents in Australia?
Car accidents can be caused for all sorts of reasons in Australia. Here are the top ten most frequent reasons why.
1. Speeding
2. Driving while distracted, e.g., on your phone
3. DUI
4. Over tiredness or fatigue
5. Ignoring traffic signals or signs
6. Defects with the car
7. Lack of visibility
8. Dangerous roads or weather conditions
9. Collisions with animals (predominantly kangaroos)
10. Not wearing a seatbelt
6 Ways To Be a Safer Driver
Even though you might like the idea of driving around like Lewis Hamilton or Dominic ‘Dom’ Toretto, staying safe behind the wheel is paying attention to the road rules, driving responsibly, and anticipating what other vehicles might (incorrectly) do.
Here are some of the best ways to do that.
1. Follow Speed Limits
Speed limits are set solely to keep you and other road users safe from potential accidents or death.
These numbers haven’t just been plucked out of thin air. They have been meticulously calculated based on the road conditions and the likely volume of traffic.
Adhering to speed limits reduces the likelihood of accidents, especially in high-risk areas like school zones or residential neighborhoods.
It also gives you more time to react to sudden changes in traffic or road conditions and, therefore, prevent accidents from happening.
2. Minimise Distractions
One of the best ways to prevent accidents from happening is to minimize distractions in the car.
Looking at your phone while driving is a complete no-no. However, even playing music loudly, singing at the top of your voice, and looking at the passing scenery can divert your attention away from the road.
Therefore, you should try to keep your eyes ahead at all times and reduce the noise around you to more manageable levels.
3. Make Sure Your Car is Regularly Maintained
Often, accidents happen because a car has not been regularly serviced by a mechanic. This can result in situations such as its brakes failing at a crucial time or steering not working properly.
These occurrences, and several others that might result in a fatal accident, are preventable simply by getting your vehicle checked over regularly.
4. Do Not Tailgate
Tailgating is not only dangerous, but it is illegal, too. Therefore, you should always maintain a safe following distance from the car ahead of you.
Doing this will give you enough time to react if the vehicle has to make a sudden stop (for example, because a child or animal runs across in front of them.
As a general rule of thumb, stay at least three seconds behind the car in front under normal driving conditions and more like four or five in bad weather.
5. Always Wear a Seatbelt
Seatbelts can literally be a lifesaver. They drastically reduce the risk of injury or death in an accident.
Moreover, you could be fined if the police catch you not wearing a seatbelt properly. So, buckle up before starting your journey.
6. Stay Sober
You should never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs because doing so has serious consequences, even if there are no fatalities.
In Australia, you must have a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.05% or below to legally drive.
While you might be okay to drive if you have one beer, glass, or wine, to be a safe driver, it is worth not drinking at all if you intend to go home afterward.
It is better to catch an Uber or taxi than risk getting into an accident because your reaction time and focus are impaired.
