Car Accident Statistics in Australia

Car accidents in Australia have shown a steady increase over recent years, raising concerns about road safety. High-speed zones and urban areas remain common hotspots for these incidents.

Australia recorded 1,300 road crash deaths in 2024, up 3.3% from 1,258 deaths in 2023. The latest monthly road deaths data shows 1,332 road deaths in the 12 months ending May 2026.

• Annual road deaths increased from 1,097 in 2020 to 1,130 in 2021 and 1,178 in 2022.
• Road deaths rose again to 1,258 in 2023 and 1,300 in 2024.
• The latest monthly update recorded 118 road deaths in May 2026.
• From January to May 2026, Australia recorded 573 road deaths, up 3.8% from 552 deaths during the same period in 2025.
• In the 12 months ending May 2026, Australia recorded 1,332 road deaths, up 0.8% from the previous 12-month period.

What is the average number of road fatalities per day/week/month in Australia?

Australia averaged about 3.6 road deaths per day in the 12 months ending May 2026.

• The latest rolling 12-month period recorded 1,332 road deaths, equal to about 3.6 deaths per day.
• That same period averaged about 25.5 road deaths per week.
• Monthly road deaths averaged about 111 deaths per month.

Note: Daily, weekly, and monthly averages are calculated from 1,332 road deaths in the 12 months ending May 2026.

How has the road fatality rate in Australia changed over the years?

Australia’s annual road fatality rate reached 4.8 deaths per 100,000 population in 2024. The latest rolling 12-month rate also stood at 4.8 deaths per 100,000 people for the 12 months ending May 2026.

• The fatality rate stood at 4.3 deaths per 100,000 population in 2020.
• The rate increased to 4.4 in 2021 and 4.5 in 2022.
• Australia’s road fatality rate rose to 4.7 in 2023.
• The rate reached 4.8 in 2024, following the post-2020 increase in annual road deaths.
• For the 12 months ending May 2026, the rolling fatality rate was also 4.8 deaths per 100,000 people.

The Northern Territory had the highest road fatality rate in Australia at 11.7 deaths per 100,000 people in the 12 months ending May 2026. New South Wales recorded the highest number of road deaths, with 365 deaths.

• The Northern Territory recorded 31 road deaths and the highest rate at 11.7 deaths per 100,000 people.
• Western Australia had the second-highest fatality rate at 6.2 deaths per 100,000 people, with 192 deaths.
• Queensland recorded 330 deaths and a rate of 5.8 deaths per 100,000 people.
• Tasmania recorded 33 deaths and a rate of 5.7 deaths per 100,000 people.
• New South Wales recorded the most road deaths at 365, with a rate of 4.2 deaths per 100,000 people.
• The Australian Capital Territory recorded 15 deaths and the lowest rate at 3.1 deaths per 100,000 people.

How many road deaths occur in remote areas?

Major city areas recorded the most road deaths in the 12 months ending May 2026, with 484 deaths.

• Major cities recorded 484 road deaths, or 36.3% of total road deaths.
• Inner Regional Australia followed with 403 deaths.
• Outer Regional Australia recorded 281 deaths.
• Remote Australia recorded 46 deaths, while Very Remote Australia recorded 41 deaths.
• 77 deaths were listed under unknown remoteness.

Australia recorded 1,238 fatal crashes in the 12 months ending May 2026, up 1.8% from the previous 12-month period.

• Fatal crashes totalled 1,091 in the 12 months ending May 2022.
• The total was 1,086 in the 12 months ending May 2023.
• Fatal crashes rose to 1,168 in the 12 months ending May 2024.
• The number increased again to 1,216 in the 12 months ending May 2025.
• Australia recorded 1,238 fatal crashes in the 12 months ending May 2026.

How do single-vehicle and multiple-vehicle fatal crashes compare in Australia?

Single-vehicle crashes accounted for the larger share of fatal crashes in the 12 months ending May 2026, with 716 fatal crashes.

• Australia recorded 716 single-vehicle fatal crashes in the 12 months ending May 2026.
• Multiple-vehicle fatal crashes totalled 522 in the same period.
• Single-vehicle fatal crashes increased by 11.7% from the previous 12-month period.
• Multiple-vehicle fatal crashes decreased by 8.7% from the previous 12-month period.
• Single-vehicle crashes accounted for 57.8% of fatal crashes in the latest period.

How many fatal crashes occurred in each speed limit zone?

The highest number of fatal crashes occurred in 100 km/h zones in the 12 months ending May 2026, with 331 fatal crashes.

• 100 km/h zones recorded 331 fatal crashes, or 26.7% of all fatal crashes.
• 60 to 75 km/h zones followed with 282 fatal crashes.
• 80 to 90 km/h zones recorded 201 fatal crashes.
• 50 km/h zones recorded 159 fatal crashes, up 23.3% from the previous 12-month period.
• ≥110 km/h zones recorded 146 fatal crashes, while ≤40 km/h zones recorded 39 fatal crashes.

A 2024 Budget Direct survey found that Australian respondents most commonly believed speeding was the leading cause of car accidents.

• 59% of respondents believed speeding was the leading cause of car accidents.
• 30% of respondents believed tailgating or aggressive driving was the second-leading cause.
• Other ranked causes included distracted driving, failure to give way, driving through a red light, driving tired, driving drunk, and poorly designed roads or intersections.

Note: This section is based on survey responses about perceived causes of car accidents. It should not be read as official crash-causation data.