CANBERRA, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Road crash injuries are rising in Australia, with men, regional communities, and pedestrians among the hardest hit, new research has revealed.
Road crashes remain a major issue, with an estimated four fatalities and 90 serious injuries occurring each day, according to a release from the Adelaide-based Flinders University on Thursday.
Hospitalization rates from road accidents have climbed steadily over the past decade, only briefly dropping during 2020 due to COVID-19 lockdowns, said Ali Soltani from Flinders University who led the research.
The study analysed more than 10 years of hospital admissions and 35 years of fatality data, revealing that while urban areas see more crashes, regional victims suffer more severe injuries and longer hospital stays.
Men make up nearly two-thirds of all hospitalizations resulting from road crashes and tend to have longer hospital stays compared to women, indicating more severe injuries.
Older Australians face the longest recovery times, and pedestrians, motorcyclists, and cyclists are especially vulnerable, said the study published in Case Studies on Transport Policy, a journal based in the Netherlands.
"Along with increased enforcement of speeding and drink-driving laws, we need age and gender-specific interventions," Soltani said.
Targeted measures recommended include stronger enforcement of speeding and drink-driving laws, and improved road design for older pedestrians, such as longer traffic light intervals and better pedestrian detection in vehicles.
Soltani also calls for enhanced infrastructure in regional and remote areas, including wider road shoulders and better lighting, as well as improved hospital trauma care and post-crash support for vulnerable groups. ■
