Thread: Road toll rises

It's interesting that the NT road toll of 14.2 per 100,000 is so much higher than the national average of 4.2.
Other states also have large rural areas, so it can't just be because it's largely rural.

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

It's interesting that the NT road toll of 14.2 per 100,000 is so much higher than the national average of 4.2.
Other states also have large rural areas, so it can't just be because it's largely rural.

The distances between towns is greater than in some other states, so fatigue could be a factor.

I have heard that a significant number of the fatal accidents in the NT involve vehicles carrying more passengers than the number of seats and seat belts. I have no idea if it is true, but if it is, that could swell the numbers dramatically.

Maybe it is because some of the animals that become road kill are a lot bigger in the NT and cause fatal accidents rather than minor inconvenience. There are not a lot of water buffalo and camels where I normally drive.

I seem to remember reading that most of the fatalities are in towns. Dare I suggest that the fact that the NT regularly wins the palm for the highest per capita alcohol consumption in the country may just possibly be related?

Personally I don't think speed has much to do with the overall road deaths, it's the stupidity of the things that drivers do at ANY speed which kills. I cannot for the life of me figure out why some drivers do things.... example. I changed lanes recently from L1 to L2 on a divided road as I wanted to turn right a few hundred metres further on.
A car was already in L2 sitting just behind me in their preferred position..... but I made sure I indicated my intentions (that itself is a rarity here) and certainly didn't cut across that vehicle.
The driver immediately swapped to L1, undertook me and swerved in front of me! Why the hell do that?
I've had similar actions from others in the country when I've overtaken them and dare I say it, many drive "Oh what a feeling" vehicles and seem determined to show me how harassing other drivers should be done as they immediately slow down when past.
Rarely any cops on WA country roads but you can bet they'll turn up en masse when there's an accident..... with a spokesperson sombrely mouthing the usual garbage "Speed was involved". Yes officer it probably was, unless they were standing still.
One day they'll say "Stupidity caused this accident" and be right.
AlanH.

Oh you nailed it there!

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

It's interesting that the NT road toll of 14.2 per 100,000 is so much higher than the national average of 4.2.
Other states also have large rural areas, so it can't just be because it's largely rural.

I think a lot of it has to do with overloading (more people than seatbelts) people riding in the back of utes/troopies and the sad state of repair of many of the vehicles being used in remote communities in the NT and some parts of the Kimberlie's in WA that tend to add to WA and the NT's disproportionate road tolls .

Originally Posted by trout1105

I think a lot of it has to do with overloading (more people than seatbelts) people riding in the back of utes/troopies and the sad state of repair of many of the vehicles being used in remote communities in the NT and some parts of the Kimberlie's in WA that tend to add to WA and the NT's disproportionate road tolls .

Kimberley, Kimberley, Kimberley!!!!! It's not plural. The same as Agnes Water, not Agnes Waters.

Originally Posted by Saitch

Kimberley, Kimberley, Kimberley!!!!! It's not plural. The same as Agnes Water, not Agnes Waters.

Who cares about the spelling you KNOW what area I am talking about