Injury Prevention

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Injury data for NSW Partners Types of injuries

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Motor vehicle injuries

The NSW Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) is the agency that reports on road traffic accidents in NSW. The total number of fatal, injury, and non-casualty road traffic accidents are reported each year and analyses are undertaken to describe these accidents.

The RTA maintains particular focus on the key factors which crash analysis shows contribute to casualty crashes:

• speeding
• drink and/or drug driving
• fatigue
• non-use of seat belts and child restraints

To view statistics on NSW road traffic accidents since 1997, see the Roads and Traffic Authority Annual Statistical Statements.

The Motor Accidents Authority (MAA) is a statutory corporation. The MAA regulates the NSW CTP Scheme and its participants, provides education and information to stakeholders and service providers and operates an independent assessment and resolution service. The MAA website includes various publications and research reports in the area of road safety, including driveway runovers of young children, road deaths and injuries among young people, and motorcycle crash patterns.

Driveways can be dangerous places for small children

We know that cars and children are a potentially fatal combination however it may be surprising to know that one child, often a toddler, is run over in the driveway of their home every week in Australia.

The vehicle is usually reversing slowly and is often being driven by a relative or friend. Many children are killed and many that survive are left with severe long-term injuries.

Children are naturally inquisitive and want to see what's going on. In the time it takes for a driver to say goodbye and start the car, a child can move from a 'safe' position into the vehicle's path. Small children can be impossible to see from inside a car, especially if they are immediately behind it.

Following concerns from the NSW Parliament’s Child Death Review Team the Motor Accidents Authority, with other key agencies, is working to reduce the incidence of these tragedies with a multi faceted approach including improving behaviour, modifying the driveway environment, and, changes to motor vehicles.

NRMA Insurance now considers reversing visibility as part of a standard range of tests when assessing new car performance. Results to date indicate that even the best vehicle has a blind area of around 3 metres that could easily hide a child. See www.nrma.com.au/reversing for information on how cars have performed.

A brochure has also been produced to raise awareness of risks and to highlight the need for supervision. The brochure is currently being distributed throughout NSW and is available along with other relevant papers on the MAA website at www.maa.nsw.gov.au under road safety/campaigns/driveways.

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