In Depth Study of Rural Road Crashes in South Australia

Abstract

An in depth study of rural road crashes in South Australia was conducted from 1998 to 2000 and produced detailed information about a sample of 236 crashes. This information was analysed to assess the contributions of different factors, such as varieties of driver error and inadequacies in road infrastructure, to the causation of rural road crashes and the severity of consequent injuries. Crashes involving alcohol intoxicated drivers were more likely to be single vehicle crashes and to involve male and teenage drivers. Such crashes were usually the result of the driver losing control of the vehicle, particularly after the vehicle ran off the road and onto an unsealed shoulder. The injuries and fatalities resulting from these crashes were usually caused by the vehicles striking roadside hazards close to the side of the road. It is concluded that efforts to reduce the role of alcohol in rural road crashes are best directed at males, and great gains are likely through reduction of teenage drink driving. However, reductions in rural drink driving crashes are also very likely if shoulders are sealed, road edges are marked with lines and roadside hazards close to the road edge are eliminated or protected.