Australia’s road fatality rate climbed for the fourth year in a row in 2024, marking the first such sustained increase since the 1960s, according to new data released by RAA.
Despite advancements in vehicle safety technology over the years, the number of deaths and serious injuries on Australian roads continues to rise, prompting fresh calls for stronger safety measures.
In South Australia (SA), 91 road deaths and 845 serious injuries were reported last year. While this reflects a decrease from the 117 fatalities and 875 serious injuries recorded in 2023, the state remains far from achieving the targets set out in its Road Safety Strategy and Action Plan.
The targets aim for a 50% reduction in road deaths and a 30% drop in serious injuries by 2031, compared to the 2018-2020 baseline.
To stay on track with these goals, SA would have needed to reduce its 2024 totals to a maximum of 80 deaths and 638 serious injuries. Instead, the state recorded its second-highest number of serious injuries since 2011, following 2023.
In Queensland, road fatalities reached their highest level since 2009, with 302 deaths reported in 2024, according to the Royal Automobile Club of Queensland (RACQ). This marks the first time in 15 years that the state’s toll has exceeded 300 deaths, drawing attention to dangerous driving behaviours and gaps in enforcement.
RACQ’s head of public policy, Dr Michael Kane, attributed most of the fatalities to preventable factors such as speeding, drink driving, and drug use.
The analysis from RAA highlighted key trends in road trauma across South Australia:
RAA senior traffic engineer Matt Vertudaches said the rise in fatalities at the national level is significant, especially given advancements in car safety systems.
“Every life lost on our roads is an unimaginable tragedy that rips apart a family and community, and serious injuries often have a permanent impact on an individual’s quality of life and become a major strain on loved ones. That’s why we continue to raise awareness of the heartbreaking impact of road trauma,” he said.
He noted a troubling pattern in South Australia, particularly among older drivers.
“Here in SA, we know older drivers in particular are losing their lives at a concerning rate. The 70-79 year old age group alone saw 18 lives lost – double the five-year average of nine,” Vertudaches said.
Vertudaches emphasised the importance of addressing well-documented risk factors, often referred to as the Fatal Five:
“Distraction and general complacency remain a huge impediment to reducing our rate of crashes, as we know taking your attention off the road for just a few seconds can have catastrophic consequences,” Vertudaches said.
