BITRE improvements to see quarterly figures arrive earlier
The rate of road deaths involving heavy rigid trucks across Australia may be easing, according to new statistics.
The September quarter of the Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics’ (BITRE) Fatal Heavy Vehicle Crashes – Quarterly Bulletins highlights no change in September 2015 compared to the same time last year, with 82 road deaths reported from September 2014 to September this year.
The development follow industry concern raised about the previous quarter’s results.
According to the figures, fatal crashes have increased by an average of 1.6 per cent a year over the three years to September this year.
Eighty-two people have died from 73 crashes involving heavy rigid trucks over the last year, with South Australia reporting the biggest increase in such accidents over the last year by 25 per cent and Western Australia seeing a decrease of 26.7 per cent.
South Australia has again seen an increase in accidents involving heavy rigid trucks over the last three years, recording a spike of 33.4 per cent.
Queensland saw a decline of 20.5 per cent for the same period.
The number of deaths involved in articulated truck fatal crashes has dropped by 15.2 per cent in the last 12 months, which is due largely to a 100 per cent fall in the Northern Territory.
The overall quarterly figure of deaths involved in articulated truck fatal crashes has dropped by 8.3 per cent from September 2013 to September this year, with Queensland reporting the biggest decline of 14.6 per cent.
According to BITRE, 67 drivers died from articulated truck crashes in the past year, followed by 20 passengers, seven pedestrians, six motorcyclists and two bike riders.
Of those, 69 people were involved in multiple vehicle crashes.