2. Transport deaths, Australia 1994

• Age and sex distribution
• Trends in death rates
• State and territory differences
• Road traffic deaths
• Non-road traffic deaths
• Other transport deaths

Age and sex distribution

Adolescents, young adults and the elderly continued to record the highest transport related death rates. Male age-specific rates were significantly higher than female rates in the range 15-59 and 80 plus years. Young males 15-29 had rates 3-4 times the female rate in this age range. Motor vehicle occupants accounted for 60% of all male transport deaths, followed by pedestrians (18%) and motor cyclists (14%). 43% of the motor vehicle occupants, and 62% of motor cycle deaths were young males aged 15-29. There was a slight increase in female rates from 1993 (up 2%) with the majority of these being females aged 50 plus years.

Trends in death rates

Male and female age-adjusted rates have declined by similar proportions since 1979 (56% males, 50% females) with the male to female rate ratio remaining at around 3 to 1. The 1994 male rate of 18 transport deaths per 100,000 was the lowest since 1979. Motor vehicle traffic accidents accounted for just over 90% of all transport related deaths in 1994 (see next section).

State and territory differences

Transport injury deaths continued to be higher in the NT than elsewhere in 1994 and were significantly higher than the national rate. However, the rate of 29 per 100,000 was considerably lower than the high of 80 per 100,000 recorded in 1988 and represented an overall fall of 42% since 1979. The rate for the ACT, which had generally been lower than the national rate, was not significantly lower in 1994. The low rate of 2 per 100,000 recorded in 1993 did not continue into 1994 which saw the rate revert back to pre-1993 rates. In the period 1992-1994 the Victorian age-adjusted rate was significantly lower than the national rate. Rates in the other states and territories were relatively close to the national rate.

Road traffic deaths

Table 2.2 Key indicators for road traffic deaths

Indicator	Males	Females	Persons
Cases	1,379	600	1,979
Crude rate/100,000 pop	15.5	6.7	11.1
Age-adjusted rate/100,000 pop	15.9	6.6	11.1

Road injury death rates fell by 56% in the period 1979-1994 (the 1994 rate was down by just under 1% from 1993). Males aged 15-24 and 75 plus years were the most at risk road users, with rates around 3 times the female rates in these age ranges. Males in the 15-24 age range accounted for over 21% (n=426) of all road deaths in 1994. Females in the same age range accounted for 7% (n=137).

Motor vehicle occupants (driver/passengers) accounted for 65% (n=1278) of all road deaths. Two-thirds of the fatally injured occupants were male (n=844). There were 189 motor cycle (rider/pillion passenger) deaths in 1994, of which 95% (n=180) were male. Motor vehicle occupant rates (driver/passengers) for males aged 15-24, while still high at 19.8 deaths per 100,000 in 1994, fell by 60% in the period 1979-1994. Motor cycle (rider/pillion passenger) death rates fell by 78% in the same period. Pedestrian death rates were highest for people aged 70 or more years.

Non-road traffic deaths

This section relates to any motor vehicle accident which occurs entirely in any place other than a public road. There were a total of 67 (51 male & 16 female) non-road traffic deaths recorded in 1994. Pedestrians (n=22) & motor cycle riders (n=18) accounted for 60% of all non-road traffic deaths. Of the 22 pedestrian deaths, 6 were in the age range 0-4 years with a further 9 deaths occurring to persons aged 25-54 years. Motor cycle riders aged 15-24 years accounted for 50% of all non-road traffic motor cycle deaths. Although non-road traffic death rates fell by 29% in the period 1979-1994, relatively small numbers in this category result in large year to year fluctuations.

Other transport deaths

Table 2.3 Key indicators for other transport deaths

Indicator	Males	Females	Persons
Cases	132	19	151
Crude rate/100,000 pop	1.5	0.2	0.9
Age-adjusted rate/100,000 pop	1.5	0.2	0.9

Table 2.4 Number of deaths by other modes of transport

Mode of transport	Males	Females	Persons
Rail	33	6	39
Water	59	3	62
Air	40	10	50

This section deals with transport deaths other than road and non-road motor vehicle traffic deaths. It covers railway, water and air transport. Of the 39 railway deaths recorded in 1994, 85% (n=33) were hit by a train, either as a pedestrian (n=22) or unspecified person (n=11). Young adults aged 10-24 years accounted for 11 deaths. In total there were 62 water transport deaths registered in 1994 of which 95% (n=59) were male. Submersion and drowning as a result of an accident to watercraft (small boat, powered and unpowered) accounted for 45% of all water transport accident deaths. A further 13% (n=8) were recorded as drowning as a result of an accident other than accident to the watercraft. There were 50 air transport deaths recorded in 1994. Occupants of "other and unspecified" powered aircraft engaged in non-commercial activities, such as occupants of private planes, accounted for 32% (n=16) of all air transport fatalities. Occupants of powered aircraft, either taking off or landing, accounted for another 18% (n=9). Accidents to unpowered aircraft, such as balloons or hang gliders resulted in 5 deaths. Overall, there has been a small decline in the number of deaths attributed to these types of accidents since 1979. Railway rates have fallen by 46%, water transport rates by 53% and air transport rates have fallen by 24%. As with road transport injury deaths, males are more at risk than females, with 87% of all other transport deaths being male.