Experts Warn: Australia Lags in Vehicle Safety Standards
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Synopsis
Experts indicate that Australia is no longer a leader in vehicle safety, as it falls behind Europe in adopting crucial technologies. With road fatalities hitting a 12-year high in 2024, calls for stronger regulations are intensifying.
Key Takeaways
- Australia's road toll reached a 12-year high with 1,300 deaths in 2024.
- Safety features often excluded from Australian vehicles to cut costs.
- Advanced technologies like 'eCall' are optional in Australia.
- Calls for stricter vehicle safety regulations are growing.
- The national strategy aims to halve road deaths by 2030.
Sydney, March 20 (NationPress) Australia, which was once a global leader in vehicle safety, is currently falling behind Europe in the implementation of life-saving technologies, experts caution.
In 2024, Australia recorded its highest road toll in 12 years, with 1,300 fatalities, an increase from 1,258 in 2023, as reported by the Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics.
As road deaths continue to rise, the demand for stronger safety regulations is intensifying, as noted in an article on the website of the Australasian Fleet Management Association based in Melbourne.
Ingrid Johnston, CEO of the Australasian College of Road Safety, highlighted a troubling instance where a vehicle sold in Australia lacked safety features found in its European equivalent, indicating that Australia's vehicle safety standards are significantly lagging behind those in Europe.
"You might think that you possess an identical vehicle to what is available in Europe, but the Australian version will have had safety features removed. It is simply unacceptable," the article quoted Johnston as saying, according to Xinhua news agency.
Europe has adopted advanced safety technologies such as 'eCall', which automatically notifies emergency services following an accident, and driver monitoring systems that can detect drowsiness or distraction. However, these technologies remain optional in Australia despite their demonstrated effectiveness.
Automakers frequently omit safety features in Australian models to reduce costs, as they are not mandated by law, Johnston stated, urging for enhanced vehicle safety standards, smarter road policies, and the integration of advanced safety technologies.
In January, government data indicated that Australia's road death toll reached a 12-year high of 1,300 in 2024.
This alarming figure comes after Australia's federal, state, and territory governments initiated a 10-year national strategy in 2021 aimed at halving road deaths and reducing serious injuries by 30 percent.
The National Road Safety Strategy aims to progressively decrease road deaths from the 2018-2020 annual average of 1,142 to fewer than 571 by 2030.
The BITRE report revealed that the 2024 death toll is 127.7 percent higher than the 2030 target.
In response to the report, the Australian Automobile Association (AAA), the peak motoring body, stated that the national strategy is "wildly off-track".
"It is evident that current road safety measures are insufficient and that further action is necessary to save lives," said AAA Managing Director Michael Bradley in a statement.
Among Australia's eight states and territories, Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania reported fewer road deaths in 2024 compared to 2023.
In New South Wales, the most populous state, the death toll remained unchanged at 340 for both years, while Queensland, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory combined reported 79 more deaths in 2024 than in 2023.
November was the deadliest month on Australian roads in 2024, recording 131 fatalities.
