Mason HM, Leggat PA, Voaklander D, Franklin RC. Road traffic fatalities in rural and remote Australia from 2006 to 2017: The need for targeted action.
Aust J Rural Health 2022;
30:252-263. [PMID:
35333424 PMCID:
PMC9313818 DOI:
10.1111/ajr.12865]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective
To explore rural motor vehicle collision (MVC) fatalities by trends over time, mode of transport, age, state, sex, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status.
Design
A retrospective total population‐based time series was conducted using the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) death registration data.
Setting
All statistical local area (SLA) within Australia from 2006 to 2017.
Participants
Australian residents whose deaths were registered with the ABS between 01 January 2006 and 31 December 2017 where the underlying cause of death was related to unintentional transport accidents.
Main outcome measures
Fatality rates were determined using population data collected from the 2006, 2011 and 2016 census. Trends over time by rurality were analysed by financial year. Rates of transport deaths by vehicle type were determined by rurality. Risk ratios were calculated to compare demographic groups based on sex, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status and age. A 3‐year scorecard was organised by state and rurality using 99.7% confidence intervals.
Results
Motor vehicle collision fatalities increase with increasing remoteness. Females, children from 0 to 14 years, pedestrians, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are at a significantly higher risk of fatal MVCs than their respective metropolitan counterparts. The 3‐year scorecard indicates that road fatality rates in the NT, WA, and all rural and remote areas required immediate attention and targeted action.
Conclusions
There is a need for investment in MVC fatality prevention in rural Australia from inner regional to remote areas in order to meet the road safety targets established by the National Road Safety Strategy.
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