Driver Statistics

In 2008 drivers aged between 15-24 were involved in 124 fatal crashes, 787 serious injury crashes and 3,800 minor injury crashes. 106 of the fatal crashes the young driver was at fault, 632 of the serious injury crashes and in the minor injury crashes 2915 were at fault. This all resulted in 122 deaths, 808 serious injuries and 4262 minor injuries.

Male drivers in the 15 to 19 year old age group are approximately eleven-and-a-half times more likely to crash (per 100 million kilometres driven) than male drivers in the lowest risk age group of 55 to 59 years. Female drivers aged 15 to 19 have a lower crash risk than males of the same age, but are still nearly eight times more likely to crash (per 100 million kilometres driven) than female drivers in the lowest risk group of 55 to 59 years. Male and female drivers in the 20 to 24 year old age group are approximately three to five times more likely to crash than the lowest risk 55 to 59 year old drivers of the same gender.

Figures show that 15-19 year old drivers make up to 7% of licensed drivers. Between 2006 & 2008 15% of 15-19 year old drivers were involved in minor injury crashes 16% in serious injury crashes and 13% involved in fatal crashes.

Between 06 & 08 around 50% of fatal crashes occurred on Friday and Saturday nights and involved a young driver. During the day 28% of crashes involved a young driver.