A PUSH by the Australian Automobile Association for urgent federal action on identifying the causes of bad crashes, has been joined by Shadow Minister for Northern Australia, Senator Susan McDonald, in light of shocking statistics that show higher risks for non-metropolitan drivers.
Senator McDonald said AAA analysis in Queensland showed regional drivers were dying at three times the rate of metropolitan drivers, while in Western Australia, the regional driver death rate was nearly 20 times the city rate.
Nationwide, regional drivers are dying about five times the rate of city drivers.
Senator McDonald added that a 2022 RACQ analysis showed 17 regional Queensland roads – including seven in North Queensland – were considered “high to medium” risk of serious injury and death.
She called for state-based crash-cause data to be collated and shared nationally.
