Younger Australians

The World Health Organisation states that globally, road traffic crashes are a leading cause of death among young people and are the main cause of death among those aged 15-29 years. Road crashes account for around a quarter of all deaths in the 15–24 age group.  

In Australia, young adults killed in road crashes are usually occupants of a vehicle (87%) and often (58%) in single-vehicle crashes.  

Annual numbers of road crash deaths by age group

The table below shows annual deaths for all age groups for the years 2013, 2018 and 2023. In 2023, total annual road deaths were 12% higher than 2018. While deaths in all age groups increased, the proportional increase was lowest in the 2 youngest age groups, including young adults. 

Annual road crash hospitalised injuries

Over the 10 years to 2021 hospitalised injuries of young adults increased at a slower rate than the total injury count. Over this decade, injuries to young adults increased by a total of 0.9% whereas total injuries (all ages) increased by 16.1%. Note that the relevant age group for hospitalised injuries data is limited to 17-25 years.

About the data 

Detailed analysis comparing Australian and international statistics on the road safety of young adults from 2008-2012 can be found in Young Adult Road Safety - A Statistical Picture(Opens in a new tab/window). 

Data is sourced from the National Road Safety Research and Reporting Database and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare(Opens in a new tab/window).  

Limitations 

In general, injuries and road crashes may involve other factors which we have not discussed, such as a higher risk of crashes with further travel, risky road behaviours and vehicle safety features, age and type.