1. Limiting risks, protecting lives Choices for novice drivers and their passengers
Prepared 22/12/08

2. Accidents are the leading cause of death for 15 to 19 year olds …..
The overwhelming majority of accidental deaths for late teen aged children are motor vehicle related, accounting for three-quarters of accidental deaths amongst 15 to 19 year olds.
Poisoning and drowning are the next largest categories for 15 to 19 years olds.
Data source: Australian Bureau of Statistics
Accidents cause half of all 15 to 19 year old deaths in NSW.

3. ... and road crashes account for the majority of these preventable deaths
The overwhelming majority of accidental deaths for late teen aged children are motor vehicle related, accounting for three-quarters of accidental deaths amongst 15 to 19 year olds
Poisoning and drowning are the next largest categories for 15 to 19 years olds.
Data source: Australian Bureau of Statistics
Nearly three-quarters of all preventable (accidental) deaths amongst 15 to 19 year olds involve road traffic crashes

4. Casualty risks by age group in NSW
The highest casualty rates occur in the 15 to 19 and 20 to 24 age groups
The casualty rate for males is worse than females in every age group
Casualty Risk is often measured in rate per 100,000 population
Children aged under 15 have a relatively low casualty risk
But 15 to 19 year olds are amongst the highest risk for all age groups
Males tend to have a higher risk, particularly the 15 to 19 year old and the 20 to 24 year old age groups
Data source: Australian Bureau of Statistics

5. Drivers comprise the largest proportion of young adult road casualties
More than half of all casualties (killed or injured) in this age group are drivers
Drivers comprise the largest group of casualties in the 15 to 19 year age group
Passengers the next largest group
One in six casualties are vulnerable road users - pedestrians, motorcyclists and pedal cyclists
Data source: NSW CRS/RTA

6. Young drivers are over-represented in serious crashes
Persons aged under 20 years represent only 5% of all licence holders but are involved in nearly 15% of all crashes resulting in death or injury
Data source: NSW CRS/RTA

7. And the majority of young drivers killed or injured are males
Over half of young driver injuries and more than three out of four young driver deaths are males
Data source: NSW CRS/RTA

8. Factors for young drivers speed, fatigue and alcohol
Young drivers are greatly over-represented as speeding drivers involved in fatal crashes.
Around one in seven young drivers are fatigued and one in ten young drivers have an illegal blood alcohol level.
Data source: NSW CRS/RTA

9. Factors for young drivers night crashes, multiple passengers
Young drivers have a greater incidence night-time fatal crashes and crashes with multiple passengers.
Data source: NSW CRS/RTA

10. Factors for young drivers close to home, single vehicle
Young drivers have a greater incidence of crashing close to home (crash occurs in the same LGA as driver’s residence) and a greater incidence of a single vehicle crash.
Data source: NSW CRS/RTA