Road safety statistics

Road crash data is maintained by Queensland Transport to provide statistics for accurate and timely analysis of road safety programs and for the development of new, effective road safety initiatives.

Weekly road toll report (PDF**, 79KB)^†

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Feature articles:

Annual road traffic crash report

2003 road traffic crashes report

This report presents an overview of reported road traffic crashes in Queensland for the year ending 31 December 2003, presented in the context of the previous five years. Read the main features of road traffic crashes in Queensland 2003 or download a complete copy of

Road Traffic Crashes in Queensland 2003 (PDF**, 478KB).

Main features of road traffic crashes in Queensland in 2003:

The Queensland road toll for 2003 was 310 fatalities. This is 12 (3.7 per cent) less then in 2002 (n=322) and 1 (0.4 per cent) less than the average for the previous five years (n=311).
The Australian road toll for 2003 was 1633, a decrease of 5 per cent (n=82) on 2002. Queensland's fatality rate of 8.2 per 100 000 population, or 1.2 per 10 000 registered vehicles, is equal to the national average.
Road users aged between 17 and 24 years accounted for 27 per cent of the road toll, however they represented 12 per cent of Queensland's population. In 2003, the road fatality rate for 17–20-year-olds was two-and-a-half times the fatality rate for the entire Queensland population. The road fatality rate for 21–24-year-olds was more than double the fatality rate for the entire Queensland population.
In 2003, 45 per cent (n=141) of road fatalities in Queensland were drivers. Passengers accounted for a further 23 per cent (n=70). Drivers made up 51 per cent (n=2938) of hospitalisations. Passengers made up 25 per cent (n=1429) of hospitalisations. This is consistent with long-term trends.
There were 42 motorcycle rider and pillion fatalities in 2003, a decrease of 21 per cent on 2002 (n=53) but 17 per cent above the average for the previous five years (n=36). There was also a 6 per cent increase in motorcycle riders and pillion passengers hospitalised in 2003 compared with 2002.
In 2003, there were 50 pedestrian fatalities. The pedestrian was considered most at fault in 63 per cent (n=29) of the 46 fatal crashes involving a pedestrian.
Pedestrians were considered most at fault in 10 per cent (n=29) of all fatal crashes in 2003.
Of the 22 083 reported crashes in Queensland in 2003, 60 per cent (n=13 602) were multi-vehicle and 33 per cent (n=7301) were single-vehicle type crashes.
Of all fatal single vehicle crashes, vehicles hitting objects accounted for 66 per cent (n=90), consistent with the average for the previous five years.
More severe crashes were more likely to occur Friday, Saturday or Sunday, with 52 per cent (n=148) of fatal crashes and 44 per cent (n=2011) of hospitalisation crashes occurring on these days. Fewest fatal crashes occurred on Mondays, (10 per cent) and fewest crashes overall occurred on Sundays (11 per cent).
While there were more crashes in urban areas in 2003, there were more fatal crashes outside urban areas. 44 per cent (n=124) of fatal crashes occurred outside urban areas, compared with 22 per cent (n=4847) of all crashes. While 28 per cent (n=6260) of all crashes occurred in Brisbane City in 2003, only 15 per cent (n=40) of fatal crashes occurred in Brisbane City.
Based on police assessment, alcohol or drug use contributed in 38 per cent (n=107) of fatal crashes and 11 per cent (n=2503) of all crashes.
Failure to obey traffic rules contributed in 29 per cent (n=83) of fatal crashes and 41 per cent (n=8945) of all crashes.
Inattention contributed in 26 per cent (n=74) of fatal crashes and 29 per cent (n=6397) of all crashes.
Speed contributed in 16 per cent (n=45) and fatigue contributed in 13 per cent (n=37) of fatal crashes. Speed and fatigue each contributed in 5 per cent (n=1108 and n=1148 respectively) of all crashes.

Reports archive:

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Last updated 03 July 2008

Statistics

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Road safety statistics

Feature articles:

Annual road traffic crash report