Fatal

Serious
InjurIES
wa roads
AND

ON

20i2 Summary

2 2

Over the past four decades major advances have been made in
reducing the number of deaths on Western Australian roads.
In 1970 Western Australias road toll was 351, representing a fatality
rate of 35.4 deaths per 100,000 head of population. In 2012 there
were 186 deaths on our roads, representing a fatality rate of 7.7.
While we have made significant progress over the journey, Western
Australia still lags behind other States in reducing road trauma.
There have been many turning points in the battle to reduce
the number of deaths and serious injuries on our roads: the
introduction of compulsory seatbelts in the 1970s and Random
Breath Testing and speed cameras in the 1980s are obvious
examples of policy advances which delivered significant benefits.
Since 2000, however, the rate of improvement in reducing
the fatality rate has slowed, indicating that breakthrough
advances such as these are proving harder to come by.
This third edition of the annual analysis of Western Australias
road deaths and injuries shows that more than half of the
deaths in 2012 were attributed to deliberate road user
choices: alcohol, speed, drugs and reckless behaviour.
We need to continue to build a safe system which, as far
as is humanly possible, provides the greatest chance of
survival, even when road users have made poor choices.
By presenting the cold, hard facts on road trauma, this
publication continues to seek to dispel some of the myths
that have arisen around road trauma and allows us to make
informed decisions about how to make our roads safer.
It will also hopefully send a message to road users that
government agencies and road safety advocates can only do
so much in keeping people safe on our roads and that some
personal responsibility must be accepted if we are to reduce
the human suffering which results from road trauma.

Tim Shanahan
President, RAC

Hon. Liza Harvey MLA

Minister for Police; Road Safety

Photo courtesy of WA Police.

2 2

The public debate on

road safety needs to be
based on facts not
theories and assumptions

 WA and national ten year trends

WA in the long term

For WA to match the national fatality rate, annual fatalities in WA

would need to decrease to approximately 140.

National long term trends are also reflected in

Western Australias fatality count.

FATALITIES PER 100,000 PERSONS

FATALITIES IN WA 1965 TO 2012

18

500

WA

16

Australia

NRSS Target 2001-2010

NRSS Target 2011-2020

Fatalities

450

14

Linear (Fatalities)

400

12

351

350

320

300

10

340
332

358

345
308

334

311

293
304

252

250

253

290

279

228

220

238

200

243

236

256

247

242
230

213

203

196

200

209

213
209

205

201
180

191 193

186

196

150

235

223 218

211

207

165

179

179

179
162

100
2

50

The national fatality rate has declined from 9.5 fatalities per 100,000 persons
in 2000 to 5.7 fatalities per 100,000 persons in 2012. As the figure above
shows, Western Australias (WA) fatality rate in the period 2001 to 2005
followed national trends. However, since 2006 WAs fatality rate has lagged well
behind the national rate. For WA to approach the current national fatality rate,
the annual State fatality count would need to decrease to approximately 140.
Efforts to reduce fatalities on WA roads must be increased if WA is to progress
toward the national rate and the National Road Safety Strategy target.

12

11

20

09

20

07

20

05

20

03

20

01

20

99

20

97

19

95

19

93

19

91

19

89

19

57

19

85

19

83

19

81

19

79

19

77

19

75

19

73

19

71

19

69

19

67

19

19

65

19

JUN-12

DEC-12

JUN-11

DEC-11

JUN-10

DEC-10

DEC-09

JUN-09

JUN-08

DEC-08

JUN-07

DEC-07

JUN-06

DEC-06

JUN-05

DEC-05

JUN-04

DEC-04

JUN-03

DEC-03

JUN-02

DEC-02

JUN-01

DEC-01

DEC-00

The figure shows the fatality count for WA from 1965 to 2012. The strong
downward trend since the early 1970s is attributed by recent Bureau of
Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics (BITRE) research to the
introduction of compulsory seatbelts in the 1970s, Random Breath Testing in
the 1980s and the introduction of speed cameras.
In 1971 the WA population reached one million. Currently WA has a population
of 2.34 million. WA has experienced annual population growth rates of up to
3.3%, whilst licensed drivers have been increasing at approximately 3.6% per
year. Licensed vehicles are increasing at an average rate of 4.5% per year over
the past 5 years.

Photo courtesy of WA Police.

BITRE research indicates the distance travelled has increased at a rate of 3.2%
per annum in Australia during the 1965 to 2010 period. This is approximately a
quadrupling of total kilometres travelled from 1965 to 2010.

 20l2 fatalities and

serious injuries

SERIOUS INJURIES BY METROPOLITAN AND REGIONAL WA 2007-2012

200

160

There were 186 fatalities in 2012.

For a fatality to be included it must meet a set of criteria (see notes). A small
number of fatalities each year are reclassified because further investigation
determines that they meet or no longer meet the criteria. Hence, the official
2012 fatality count may change at a later date.
The 2012 count is lower than the five year average (201). As a comparison, the
162 fatalities recorded in 2005 was equal to a fatality rate of 8.06 per 100,000
persons. The 2012 count is equal to a fatality rate of 7.65 per 100,000 persons.
A lower fatality rate of 7.63 was recorded in 2011.
Currently the fatality rate is one quarter of the peak levels reached in 1968
and 1970.
WA FATALITIES AND SERIOUS INJURIES 2007-2012
400

Fatalities

350
300

Serious Injuries

366

349
302

Metro

Regional WA

173

165

159

158

140
120

193

191

180

141

137

131

100

103

99

107

80
60
40
20
0
2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Contrary to the widely held perception that WAs high regional fatality and
serious injury rate is attributable to the number of kilometres travelled in
Regional WA, recent BITRE research provides guidance on relative kilometres
travelled within the whole state and within the capital city based on fuel sales.
On the basis of this data it is estimated that 65% of vehicle kilometres travelled
occur within the Perth metropolitan area.

290

250
200

244

235
205

193

191

206

186

179

150
100
50
0
2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

There were 206 serious injuries in 2012.

There were 206 serious injuries in 2012 according to the WA Police definition of
serious injury. There are a number of definitions utilised by agencies for serious
injury. The WA Police definition is based on grievous bodily harm. The term
grievous bodily harm means any bodily injury of such a nature as to endanger,
or to be likely to endanger life, or to cause, or be likely to cause, permanent
injury to health.
FATALITY COUNT METROPOLITAN AND REGIONAL WA 2007-2012
200

Metro

180

Regional WA

160
140
120

102

80

116

111

103

100
80

77

91

95

79

Photo courtesy of West Australian Newspapers

100

126

109

60
40
20
0
2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

districts
The figure below shows the count of fatalities and serious injuries by
WA Police Districts, grouped by Police Regions.

GendeR

FATALITIES AND SERIOUS INJURIES BY POLICE DISTRICTS 2012

South East Metropolitan

24

24

Peel

23

17
7

North West Metropolitan

19
12

11

West Metropolitan

15

East Metropolitan

South Metropolitan

Central Metropolitan

South West

21

Wheatbelt

29

26
10

Pilbara
Mid West-Gascoyne
Great Southern

10

Goldfields-Esperance

10

Kimberley

12
11
10

Fatalities

Metro Regional WA State

AGE
Whilst the younger age groups (17-19, 20-24) continue to be over-represented
in fatalities, the next two age groups (25-29, 30-39) were also significantly overrepresented. In 2011, the 70+ age group were over-represented, the
over-representation has declined in 2012.

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22

13

Males are more likely than

females to be killed on our
Female
33%
29%
31%
roads. The ratio of more
Male
67%
71%
69%
than two male fatalities to
Total
100%
100%
100%
each female fatality
continued in 2012 and is
consistent with the longer term trends. The male over-representation is greatest
in the age groups 30-39 and 50-59. The male over-representation is generally
attributed to a higher propensity toward high risk behaviours such as alcohol
consumption and speed in combination with higher exposure based on
distance travelled.
Fatalities by Gender

Serious Injuries

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

PERCENTAGE OF FATALITIES AND POPULATION BY AGE GROUPS 2012

80
25%

% Population

Longer term (2007-2011) Police District fatality rates follow a pattern of

Regional WA districts being above the State rate and metropolitan rates
being below the State rate.
A comparison of 2012 with 2011 fatality rates shows a number of features:
Central (6.02) and South East Metropolitan (6.35) district fatality
rates increased in 2012, albeit from a relatively low base in 2011. All
metropolitan districts were below the State fatality rate in 2012.
Wheatbelt (49.14) improved slightly in 2012, however it remains more
than six times the State fatality rate. It is also four times the fatality rate
of South West (12.36) and Great Southern (11.98), districts with which
it shares similar geographic and demographic features.

22%

% Fatalities

21%

20%

16%

15%
13%

14%

14%

11%

11%

10%

7%

7%

13%
10%

9%

8%

7%

8%

5%
4%

4%

0%
0-16

17-19

20-24

25-29

30-39

40-49

50-59

60-69

70+

Great Southern (11.98) and Kimberley (13.69) have both shown a

fatality rate improvement in 2012. Kimberley has declined from a rate
of 30.82 in 2011 to a 2012 rate of 13.69. It should be noted however
the Kimberley is relatively volatile given it has the smallest district
population and a variable fatality count. Great Southern is down from
18.06 in 2011 to 11.98 in 2012.
DISTRICT FATALITY RATE PER 100,000 PERSONS, 2012
Wheatbelt

49.14

Mid West-Gascoyne

20.22

Pilbara

19.05

Goldfields-Esperance

16.30

Kimberley

13.69

South West

12.36

Great Southern

11.98

Western Australia

7.65

Peel

6.90

East Metropolitan

6.60

South East Metropolitan

6.35

Central Metropolitan

6.02

West Metropolitan

4.10

South Metropolitan

3.41

North West Metropolitan

2.16

10

20

30

40

50

60
Photo courtesy of WA Police

CAUSES

Road UseRS
Fatalities by Road User Role

Metro Regional WA State

Motor vehicle driver

40%

56%

48%

Motor vehicle passenger

12%

24%

18%

Motorcycle rider

26%

6%

16%

Pedestrian

16%

12%

14%

Motorcycle passenger

3%

1%

2%

In 2012, 14% of
fatalities (26) were
pedestrians, this is a
continuation of the
relatively high number
recorded in 2011.

Motorcycle riders
Cyclist
2%
1%
2%
and passengers
continued to be a
Total
100%
100%
100%
highly vulnerable
group in 2012. In metropolitan WA, 30% of fatalities were motorcycle riders or
passengers. State-wide, 18% of fatalities were motorcycle riders or passengers (34).
Fatal injuries for motorcyclists in 2012 were disproportionately caused by issues such
as speed and carelessness. The majority of motorcycle rider fatalities were male (90%).

Fatalities by selected Crash Causes

Metro Regional WA State

Alcohol

13%

17%

15%

Speed

13%

12%

13%

Inattention

10%

14%

12%

Careless

10%

9%

10%

Alcohol/speed

6%

11%

8%

Fatigue

3%

12%

7%

Fail to give way

13%

2%

7%

Reckless

12%

0%

6%

Animals

0%

5%

2%

Turn infront

1%

3%

2%

The motorcycle rider and passenger fatalities need to be considered in the context
of growth in motorcycle registrations. Motorcycles are now 5.5% of licensed motorised
vehicles. Also relevant is the kilometres travelled by different road user groups with
motorcycles tending to have lower annual distances travelled than other road
user groups.

These primary causal features are determined by the Attending Officer at the
scene. There is often considerable difficulty in determining causes in single
vehicle run off road type crashes. These crashes are often caused by
distraction, inattention and fatigue, but allocating a single causal feature is
difficult at this early stage of a crash investigation.

Motorcycle fatalities are most common on metropolitan roads zoned 60 kph. Right
angled (33%) and hit object (40%) crashes were the dominant crash types for
motorcycles with almost 75% of fatalities occurring in these ways.

Alcohol and speed continue to be dominant fatal crash causes with 36% of
fatalities attributed to these causes (where the cause is known). Alcohol and
speed are more prevalent causes in Regional WA, making up 41% of fatal
injury crash causes.

The five year comparison data in combination with the 2012 data provide an
interesting comparison between broad road user types. Motor vehicle driver and
passenger fatalities show a fairly strong declining trend, motorcycle fatalities show a
much weaker declining trend, whilst the pedestrian trend is not improving.

PROPORTION OF FATALITIES BY SELECTED CRASH CAUSES

2012 AND FIVE YEAR AVERAGE

18%

TRENDS IN FATALITIES BY ROAD USER TYPE 2007-2012

160

Motorcycle

Pedestrian

Linear (Motorcycle)

Linear (Motor Vehicle)

15%

14%

180

Motor Vehicle

2012

16%

140

13%

13% 13%

12%

Linear (Pedestrian)

12% 12%

10%

10%

8%

8%

8%
7%

7% 7%

6%

120

Five Year Average

15%

6%

6%

4%

100

4%
3%

2%

80

0%

60

o
Alc

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oho

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Sp

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tion

tten

Ina

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ig
Fat

l
Fai

ive

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ugs

/Dr

hol

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Alc

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rien

xpe

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2%

2%

1%

ess

ckl

Re

40
20
0
2007

10

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

The 2012 fatal crash primary cause analysis is notable for the increase in
crashes attributed to reckless behaviour. The five year average is 2% whereas
6% are attributed to reckless behaviour in 2012. This is concentrated in the
metropolitan area where 12% are attributed to reckless behaviour. The following
table shows crash causes aggregated by similarities in underlying issues. From
this table it can be seen that at least 50% of fatal crashes in 2012, where the
cause has been determined, were attributed to deliberate driver choices such
as alcohol, speed, drugs, reckless or careless behaviours.
Description of underlying issue

Aggregated selected crash causes

2012

Behavioural

Alcohol/speed/drugs

37%

Behavioural

Contravene sign/signals/turn in front

13%

Behavioural

Reckless/careless

16%

Behavioural-safe system

Inattention/fatigue

19%

Safe vehicles

Mechanical/tyres/load

2%

11

LICENSING

Crash naturE
Fatalities by Crash Nature

Metro Regional WA State

Hit object

30%

41%

36%

Right angled

26%

9%

17%

Hit pedestrian

18%

12%

15%

Head on

9%

17%

13%

Non collision

10%

14%

12%

Rear end

6%

3%

4%

Sideswipe- same direction

0%

2%

1%

Hit animal

0%

2%

1%

Passenger fell

1%

0%

1%

Sideswipe- opposite direction

1%

0%

1%

100%

100%

100%

Total

Single vehicle run

off road crashes (hit
object and noncollision) accounted
for 48% of fatalities,
higher in Regional
WA (55%) than the
metropolitan area
(40%). This is lower
than 2011 (55%), the
reduction is a
reflection of the
decline in this crash
type in Regional WA
down from 71% in
2011 to 55% in 2012.

In 2012, vehicle on vehicle crashes were responsible for 36% of fatalities,

higher in the metropolitan area (41%) than in Regional WA (31%). Fifty six per
cent of fatalities happened on straight roads, while 25% occurred on curves,
while T junctions and four-way intersections were the site for 15% of fatalities.
seatbelts
Seatbelt non-use
remains an issue.
Not Worn
28%
34%
31%
The proportion of
Worn
72%
66%
69%
fatalities where
Total
100%
100%
100%
seatbelt use is known
and not used is
largely consistent with 2011 and the longer term ratio. The non-use rate is higher in
Regional WA at 34%. Seatbelt non-use, like many high risk behaviours, tends not to
occur in isolation. Drivers exhibiting high risk behaviours such as carelessness,
recklessness, speeding and alcohol consumption prior to driving also displayed
higher rates of seatbelt non-use.
Metro Regional WA State

Metro Regional WA State

The improvement prior to 2012 has been attributed to the vehicle impoundment
strategy. In 2012, 7,598 vehicles were impounded at the roadside for unlicensed
driving type offences.
Speed Zone
There is a difference
between metropolitan
40
1%
0%
1%
and Regional WA in the
50
16%
8%
12%
speed zones with most
60
33%
6%
19%
fatalities. Two of every
three Regional WA
70
12%
3%
8%
fatalities occurred in
80
15%
7%
10%
110kph zones. In
90
7%
6%
6%
contrast, 50 and 60kph
100
6%
4%
5%
zones dominated in
110
10%
66%
39%
metropolitan WA, with
Total
100%
100%
100%
almost half metropolitan
fatalities occurring in
these two lower speed zones. This needs to be balanced by the distribution of
speed zones in WA and the millions of kilometres travelled within each speed zone.
Fatalities by Speed Zone

Metro Regional WA State

Photo courtesy of WA Police

Fatalities by Seatbelt Use

The proportion of
unlicensed drivers and
Licensed
86%
82%
84%
riders in fatal crashes
has increased after
Unlicensed
14%
18%
16%
three years of decline.
Total
100%
100%
100%
In 2007, the proportion
of unlicensed drivers in
fatal crashes peaked (20%), the rate declined to 10% in 2011 but has increased
in 2012 (16%). Regional WA remains the most critical area, almost one in five
drivers in a fatal crash in 2012 was unlicensed.
Drivers in Fatal Crashes

12

13

Notes

Photo courtesy of WA Police.

Based on WA Police data as collected by the Attending Officer at the scene

and subject to later change.
The 2012 data is accurate as at 7/01/2013, with the exception of a reclassified
fatality following a Coroners report on 21/01/2013. Previous year totals are
accurate as at end of the reporting period.
The counts may be amended as Coronial and crash investigation findings
are determined. Typically the road toll falls slightly at the end of each year as
fatalities are excluded. Fatalities are excluded when they do not satisfy the
criteria for inclusion in the road toll (eg, it is determined the fatality was as a
result of prior death or injury heart attack).
Serious injury counts are provisional and subject to revision. Therefore
counts in this Summary may differ from counts extracted at other dates
and published in other documents. There have been a series of systemic
changes to the process of determining serious injury status which may
impact on time series comparability of serious injury counts. Historic serious
injury counts have been recast into current WA Police boundaries and differ
from previous editions.
Comparison with long or longer term data refers to the five calendar years
2007 to 2011.
Unknown and incomplete data has been excluded from calculations in tables.
Small percentage variations in totals and selected sub-totals are due to
rounding error.
The Seatbelt table has been limited to drivers and passengers, unlike
previous editions in this series which included motorcyclists under the title
Restraint Use.
Population data used in rate calculations is sourced from relevant ABS
publications including 3105.0 and 3101.0.
National Road Safety Strategy (NRSS) target data sourced from NRSS 20012010 and NRSS 2011-2020.
Districts and Regions are defined by WA Police boundaries.
District fatality rates are based on 2010-11 WA Police District population data.
This population data is older than the State population used in the 2012
Summary calculation and accounts for the small variation
The criteria for including a fatality in the fatality count includes a range of
factors relating to the nature of the fatality and the nature of the crash. Fatality
factors include: occurring within 30 days of the crash, not being premeditated
and the fatality being a direct result of the crash as opposed to the cause.
Nature of the crash factors include: involving at least one vehicle, involving
vehicle movement, and occurring on a road that meets specified conditions.
This document has been prepared by the Royal Automobile Club of WA, in
collaboration with WA Police and the Office of Road Safety.

14

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Cover photo courtesy of Mandurah Mail.

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