Summary
This monograph compares Australia's roadsafety performance to its OECD counterparts.The comparisons are drawn taking into account the level of motorisation and population of the countries reported. The results highlight the substantial gains made in road safety both in Australia and many other countries from 1975 to 1998. Full details of these comparisons are reported in Benchmarking Road Safety – The 1998 Report.
Fatalities per 10 000 registered vehicles
The number of deaths for every 10 000 registered vehicles is a method of comparing road fatalities taking into account the level of motorisation.
Road fatalities relative to vehicle ownership have declined significantly in Australia since 1975.
In 1975, there were 5.8 deaths per 10 000 registered vehicles in Australia, in 1998 this had decreased to 1.5
The median rate for the OECD nations reported has also declined. In 1975, the OECD median was 7.2, by 1998 it was 2.0
For the years reported, Australia’s rate ofdeath per 10 000 registered vehicles is below that reported for the OECD median.
Fatalities per 10 000 registered vehicles - OECD nations
Country |
1975 |
1980 |
1985 |
1988 |
1989 |
1990 |
1991 |
1992 |
1993 |
1994 |
1995 |
1996 |
1997 |
1998 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Australia |
5.8 |
4.3 |
3.2 |
3.0 |
2.9 |
2.3 |
2.1 |
1.9 |
1.9 |
1.8 |
1.8 |
1.7 |
1.5 |
1.5 |
Austria |
11.6 |
7.2 |
4.8 |
4.7 |
4.4 |
4.2 |
4.1 |
3.6 |
3.1 |
3.1 |
2.7 |
2.3 |
2.4 |
2.0 |
Belgium |
7.5 |
6.4 |
4.5 |
4.6 |
4.5 |
4.3 |
4.0 |
3.5 |
3.4 |
3.4 |
2.8 |
2.6 |
2.6 |
2.8 |
Canada |
5.3 |
4.0 |
3.0 |
2.5 |
2.5 |
2.3 |
2.2 |
2.1 |
2.2 |
1.9 |
2.0 |
1.8 |
1.7 |
1.6 |
Czech Republic |
- |
4.8 |
3.4 |
3.1 |
3.5 |
4.0 |
4.0 |
4.5 |
4.4 |
4.5 |
4.1 |
3.9 |
3.7 |
3.0 |
Denmark |
5.0 |
3.7 |
4.1 |
3.5 |
3.2 |
3.1 |
2.9 |
2.8 |
2.7 |
2.6 |
2.7 |
2.3 |
2.2 |
2.1 |
Finland |
7.2 |
4.0 |
3.1 |
3.3 |
3.5 |
2.9 |
2.8 |
2.6 |
2.1 |
2.2 |
2.0 |
1.8 |
1.9 |
1.7 |
France |
8.1 |
6.3 |
4.6 |
4.5 |
4.4 |
4.2 |
3.9 |
3.6 |
3.4 |
3.2 |
3.1 |
3.0 |
2.9 |
- |
Germany |
7.2 |
4.9 |
2.9 |
2.5 |
2.5 |
2.6 |
2.6 |
2.4 |
2.2 |
2.1 |
2.0 |
1.8 |
1.7 |
1.6 |
Greece |
17.0 |
10.6 |
9.9 |
7.4 |
7.8 |
7.4 |
7.3 |
- |
6.8 |
6.7 |
6.7 |
5.4 |
5.4 |
5.1 |
Hungary |
12.6 |
9.0 |
9.0 |
7.4 |
8.8 |
11.2 |
8.8 |
8.5 |
6.7 |
6.1 |
6.0 |
5.0 |
5.0 |
5.1 |
Iceland |
- |
2.8 |
2.1 |
2.2 |
2.0 |
1.7 |
2.0 |
1.5 |
1.3 |
0.9 |
1.8 |
0.7 |
1.0 |
1.7 |
Ireland |
8.6 |
6.2 |
4.5 |
4.7 |
4.5 |
4.5 |
4.0 |
3.7 |
3.7 |
3.4 |
3.5 |
3.4 |
3.3 |
3.0 |
Italy |
6.0 |
4.7 |
3.1 |
2.6 |
2.3 |
2.3 |
2.5 |
2.4 |
2.0 |
2.0 |
1.9 |
1.8 |
1.8 |
1.7 |
Japan |
4.3 |
2.7 |
2.4 |
2.4 |
2.4 |
2.4 |
2.2 |
2.2 |
1.9 |
1.8 |
1.8 |
1.6 |
1.5 |
1.4 |
Korea |
238.8 |
95.4 |
54.5 |
52.5 |
47.6 |
36.8 |
32.3 |
23.0 |
17.1 |
14.1 |
12.5 |
13.5 |
11.1 |
8.0 |
Luxemburg |
11.7 |
6.4 |
4.0 |
4.0 |
3.2 |
3.3 |
3.6 |
3.1 |
3.1 |
2.5 |
2.5 |
2.5 |
2.1 |
1.9 |
Netherlands |
6.3 |
4.3 |
2.8 |
2.5 |
2.5 |
2.3 |
2.1 |
2.1 |
2.0 |
2.0 |
2.0 |
1.7 |
1.7 |
1.5 |
New Zealand |
4.3 |
3.5 |
3.9 |
3.6 |
3.6 |
3.3 |
2.9 |
2.9 |
2.7 |
2.5 |
2.5 |
2.2 |
2.3 |
2.2 |
Norway |
- |
2.4 |
2.2 |
1.7 |
1.7 |
1.5 |
1.5 |
1.5 |
1.3 |
1.2 |
1.3 |
1.1 |
1.3 |
1.4 |
Poland |
14.4 |
10.9 |
6.6 |
- |
- |
8.1 |
8.0 |
6.8 |
6.1 |
6.2 |
6.2 |
5.4 |
5.9 |
5.6 |
Portugal |
26.1 |
15.2 |
9.2 |
10.0 |
8.6 |
7.7 |
7.6 |
6.7 |
5.4 |
4.7 |
4.8 |
4.5 |
3.9 |
3.1 |
Spain |
9.0 |
6.4 |
5.4 |
5.9 |
6.3 |
5.8 |
5.3 |
4.5 |
3.6 |
3.1 |
3.1 |
2.8 |
2.8 |
2.8 |
Sweden |
3.8 |
2.5 |
2.2 |
2.0 |
2.2 |
1.8 |
1.7 |
1.7 |
1.5 |
1.4 |
1.3 |
1.2 |
1.2 |
1.2 |
Switzerland |
5.8 |
4.5 |
2.7 |
2.7 |
2.5 |
2.4 |
2.1 |
2.1 |
1.8 |
1.7 |
1.7 |
1.5 |
1.4 |
1.4 |
Turkey |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
8.7 |
7.7 |
UK |
3.9 |
3.4 |
2.5 |
2.2 |
2.3 |
2.2 |
1.9 |
1.8 |
1.6 |
1.5 |
1.5 |
1.4 |
1.4 |
1.3 |
USA |
3.2 |
3.2 |
2.6 |
2.5 |
2.5 |
2.4 |
2.2 |
2.1 |
2.1 |
2.1 |
2.1 |
2.1 |
2.1 |
2.0 |
OECD median |
7.2 |
4.7 |
3.4 |
3.2 |
3.2 |
3.1 |
2.9 |
2.7 |
2.7 |
2.5 |
2.5 |
2.2 |
2.1 |
2.0 |
In 1998, Australia recorded 1.5 deaths per 10 000 registered vehicles. Australia ranked equal 6th of the 27 OECD nations for which this information was available.
Sweden had the lowest rate recording 1.2 deaths per 10 000 registered vehicles.
Korea, with 8.0 deaths per 10 000 registered vehicles, had the highest rate of the OECD nations.
Fatalities per 10 000 registered vehicles, 1998
Fatalities per 100 000 population
The number of deaths for every 100 000 of population is a measure of the public health risk associated with road use.
The public health risk associated with road use has declined significantly in Australia since 1975.
In 1975 there were 26.6 deaths per 100 000 population in Australia, in 1998 this had decreased to 9.4.
Fatalities per 10 000 population - OECD nations
Country |
1975 | 1980 | 1985 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Australia |
26.6 | 22.3 | 18.6 | 17.4 | 16.7 | 13.7 | 12.2 | 11.3 | 11.1 | 10.8 | 11.2 | 10.8 | 9.5 | 9.4 |
Austria |
33.4 | 26.5 | 20.1 | 21.3 | 20.6 | 20.3 | 20.0 | 17.8 | 16.1 | 16.7 | 15.1 | 12.8 | 13.7 | 11.9 |
Belgium |
24.0 | 24.3 | 18.3 | 19.9 | 20.1 | 19.9 | 18.8 | 16.7 | 16.5 | 16.8 | 14.3 | 13.4 | 13.4 | 14.7 |
Canada |
26.7 | 22.7 | 17.3 | 16.0 | 16.2 | 14.9 | 13.7 | 12.3 | 12.6 | 11.2 | 11.4 | 10.4 | 10.2 | 9.7 |
Czech Republic |
16.3 | 12.2 | 9.6 | 9.2 | 10.4 | 12.5 | 12.8 | 14.9 | 14.8 | 15.8 | 15.4 | 15.2 | 15.5 | 13.2 |
Denmark |
16.4 | 13.5 | 15.1 | 13.9 | 13.1 | 12.3 | 11.8 | 11.2 | 10.8 | 10.5 | 11.2 | 9.8 | 9.3 | 9.4 |
Finland |
19.4 | 11.5 | 11.1 | 13.2 | 14.8 | 13.0 | 12.6 | 12.0 | 9.6 | 9.5 | 8.6 | 7.9 | 8.5 | 7.8 |
France |
27.3 | 25.4 | 20.7 | 20.6 | 20.5 | 19.9 | 18.5 | 17.3 | 16.6 | 15.6 | 15.3 | 14.7 | 14.4 | 15.1 |
Germany |
22.0 | 19.3 | 13.0 | 12.7 | 12.5 | 14.0 | 14.2 | 13.2 | 12.3 | 12.1 | 11.6 | 10.7 | 10.4 | 9.5 |
Greece |
13.8 | 15.0 | 20.2 | 17.8 | 19.9 | 20.2 | 20.6 | 20.9 | 20.8 | 21.6 | 23.1 | 19.6 | 20.9 | - |
Hungary |
16.0 | 15.2 | 16.5 | 16.1 | 20.4 | 23.4 | 20.5 | 20.3 | 16.3 | 15.2 | 15.5 | 13.4 | 13.7 | 13.5 |
Iceland |
- | 11.0 | 10.0 | 11.7 | 11.1 | 9.4 | 10.5 | 8.1 | 6.4 | 4.5 | 9.0 | 3.7 | 5.5 | 9.8 |
Ireland |
18.4 | 16.6 | 11.6 | 13.1 | 13.1 | 13.6 | 12.6 | 11.7 | 12.1 | 11.4 | 12.1 | 12.4 | 12.8 | 12.4 |
Italy |
18.6 | 16.4 | 13.5 | 13.1 | 12.0 | 12.4 | 14.0 | 14.1 | 12.6 | 12.4 | 12.3 | 11.7 | 11.7 | 11.0 |
Japan |
12.5 | 9.7 | 9.9 | 11.0 | 11.7 | 11.8 | 11.6 | 12.0 | 10.6 | 10.2 | 10.1 | 9.3 | 8.9 | 8.5 |
Korea |
12.6 | 17.2 | 21.4 | 32.0 | 34.5 | 33.4 | 36.0 | 31.0 | 27.4 | 26.3 | 26.6 | 32.3 | 29.3 | 22.6 |
Luxemburg |
- | 27.0 | 21.6 | 22.6 | 17.9 | 18.5 | 20.8 | 18.7 | 19.2 | 16.5 | 17.0 | 17.2 | 14.4 | 13.4 |
Netherlands |
17.1 | 14.2 | 9.9 | 9.3 | 9.8 | 9.2 | 8.5 | 8.5 | 8.2 | 8.5 | 8.6 | 7.6 | 7.5 | 6.8 |
New Zealand |
20.3 | 18.9 | 22.7 | 21.7 | 22.7 | 21.5 | 19.0 | 18.8 | 17.2 | 16.5 | 16.2 | 14.1 | 14.4 | 13.3 |
Norway |
13.5 | 8.9 | 9.7 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 7.8 | 7.6 | 7.6 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 7.0 | 5.8 | 6.9 | 8.0 |
Poland |
16.5 | 16.8 | 12.6 | - | - | 19.2 | 20.6 | 18.1 | 16.5 | 17.5 | 17.9 | 16.5 | 18.9 | 18.3 |
Portugal |
39.5 | 31.5 | 25.2 | 33.7 | 31.5 | 32.2 | 34.4 | 32.9 | 28.7 | 26.6 | 28.8 | 28.9 | 26.7 | 22.4 |
Spain |
16.6 | 17.6 | 16.6 | 21.3 | 24.1 | 23.2 | 22.7 | 20.1 | 16.3 | 14.4 | 14.7 | 14.0 | 14.3 | 15.1 |
Sweden |
14.3 | 10.2 | 9.7 | 9.7 | 10.7 | 9.1 | 8.7 | 8.8 | 7.3 | 6.7 | 6.5 | 6.1 | 6.1 | 6.0 |
Switzerland |
19.0 | 19.2 | 13.6 | 14.0 | 13.6 | 13.9 | 12.4 | 12.2 | 10.5 | 9.7 | 9.9 | 8.7 | 8.3 | 8.4 |
Turkey |
- | - | 14.3 | 17.3 | 15.2 | 14.8 | 14.4 | 14.1 | 14.3 | - | - | - | 10.6 | 10.1 |
UK |
11.9 | 11.1 | 9.4 | 9.2 | 9.7 | 9.4 | 8.2 | 7.5 | 6.8 | 6.5 | 6.4 | 6.4 | 6.3 | 6.0 |
USA |
20.7 | 22.5 | 18.4 | 19.2 | 18.5 | 17.9 | 16.4 | 15.4 | 15.6 | 15.6 | 15.9 | 15.9 | 15.7 | 15.3 |
OECD median |
18.4 | 16.8 | 14.7 | 16.0 | 15.2 | 14.4 | 14.1 | 14.1 | 13.5 | 12.4 | 12.3 | 12.4 | 12.2 | 11.0 |
The median rate for the OECD nations reported has also declined. In 1975, the OECD median was 18.4, by 1998 it was 11.0.
In 1998, Australia recorded 9.4 road deaths per 100 000 population. Australia ranked equal 8th of the 27 OECD nations for which this information was available.
Sweden had the lowest rate, recording 6.0 deaths per 100 000 population.
Korea, with 22.6 deaths per 100 000 population, had the highest rate of the OECD nations.
Fatalities per 100 000 population, 1998
Key points
Compared to other OECD nations, Australia ranked:
- 6th in terms of fatalities per 10 000 registered vehicles; and
- 8th in terms of fatalities per 100 000 population.
Sweden was the safest nation in terms of fatalities per 10 000 registered vehicles, and per 100 000 population.
Data Sources
Figures provided for all OECD nations, with the exception of Australia, were derived from the International Road Traffic and Accident Database (IRTAD).
Sources for Australian figures are provided below.
1975, 1980, 1985-1997
Fatalities per 100 000 population and per 10 000 registered vehicles were taken from the FORS publication Road Fatalities Australia 1998 Statistical Summary.
1998
Fatalities per 100 000 population were calculated using the latest population and fatality figures.
Type: Research and Analysis Report
Sub Type: ATSB Monograph
Topics: Int comparisons
Publication Date: 01/08/00