Every year the number of cars on New South Wales roads increases and yet the statistical chance of getting killed in a car crash declines. There has been a dramatic drop in car deaths in the past thirty years. In 1982 this state's road toll stood at 1253 people killed. In 2011 it was a mere 274.
Many factors have contributed to this improvement, but the single most significant reason we are safer driving cars is the efforts of the police to force drivers to obey the rules. Thirty years ago many drivers ignored the requirement to buckle seatbelts when driving. Today - some people still do drive unbuckled - but the numbers are declining and the main reasons are the heavy fines and loss of demerit points that apply.
Another major factor was the lowering of blood alcohol levels to .05 and the introduction of random breath tests. Before RBT, a driver slightly over the limit needed an unfortunate minor accident to be forced to submit a breath test. The advent of RBT increased the risk factor exponentially. We still detect drivers breaking the alcohol rules, but they are ever decreasing in numbers because of the relentless roadside testing that we observe whenever we drive.
The car industry has also contributed to the lowering death toll. Air bags are now an integral component of all new cars and to achieve sales manufacturers make attaining that five star safety rating an essential goal. Even cars at the lower end of the price spectrum meet this standard, which now not only applies to the driver and passengers, but to the safety of pedestrians the vehicle may hit.
It seems we have made great progress in reducing the road toll. People travelling in today's safety advanced vehicles, buckled into their seats and with a legal blood alcohol level, have a very good chance of reaching their destination safely - provided they don't speed.
Speed seems to be the last safety frontier. An overwhelming number of fatal car accidents seem to happen on country roads - and speed is the determining factor when inquests deliver a verdict. Speed is often a factor in city accidents and we are seeing an increase in hooning - and young drivers competing to race other cars on city streets.
It took a draconian police presence to get us to buckle our seat belts and observe the alcohol laws when driving. The scientific world has devised instruments to detect speeding, ranging from radar to time/distance photographic measuring. It is only a matter of time before exceeding the posted speed limit will bring such certain retribution that only the moronic will take that chance.
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