"In Australia, a country with a terrible occurrence and societal acceptance of violent road deaths (would we, for example, be so lackadaisical about the death “toll” were we measuring killings, accidental and otherwise, involving knives or dogs or lawnmowers?), we are culturally imbued with notions of our “rights” rather than our “privileges” when it comes to motor vehicle driving. Something to do with our vast expanses and wide-open roads perhaps."
>>
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/mar/18/when-dad-couldnt-drive-any-more-it-was-devastating-but-he-was-just-too-old
#RoadViolence #cars #SUVs #roads #violence #accident #RoadTrauma #RoadTrafficFatalities #roadkill #sprawl #Australia #MobilityDesign

The Guardian · Mar 17When Dad couldn’t drive any more, it was devastating – but he was just too oldBy Paul Daley

**BellingenNSW** @Bellingen@mastodon.au · Mar 14

Mar 14

BellingenNSW @Bellingen@mastodon.au

Australians’ love affair with monster family cars

"These big cars are fuelling congestion, blocking up streets and outstripping the size of car parks, leading to calls to build bigger ones – dismaying safety and environment advocates."

"The Monash University Accident Research Centre has also found that larger cars are much more likely to cause deaths and serious injuries to other people when they’re in an accident."

“We’re breathing emissions, our children are breathing emissions...You’re polluting the air.”
>>
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/mar/15/you-have-unmet-needs-the-psychology-behind-australias-love-affair-with-big-cars
#cars #SUVs #families #Australia #identity #schoolrun #climatechange #pollution #RoadViolence #MobilityDesign #standards #governance

The Guardian · Mar 14‘You have unmet needs’: the psychology behind Australia’s love affair with big carsBy Tory Shepherd

**BellingenNSW** @Bellingen@mastodon.au · Feb 15 *

Feb 15 *

BellingenNSW @Bellingen@mastodon.au

Intentional road crashes
In Australia, fatal road crashes are climbing again.

"Suicide or accident? The hidden complexities of intentional road crashes in Australia
International research suggests driver suicides may account for up to 8–9% of all fatal road crashes. But studies indicate up to half of these cases may go unreported."

"Between 2001 and 2017, the rate of suicide involving a road vehicle collision in Australia nearly doubled from 0.125 per 100,000 people to 0.25 per 100,000. "

"Unlike most other suicide methods, road vehicle collisions pose a significant risk to others.Intentional crashes can involve unsuspecting drivers, passengers and pedestrians, turning a personal act of self-harm into a broader public safety issue."
>>
https://theconversation.com/suicide-or-accident-the-hidden-complexities-of-intentional-road-crashes-in-australia-248673
#cars #drivers #crashes #males #violence #accident #pedestrians #harm #risks #mentalhealth #rage #roads #mobilitydesign #speed #FossilFuel #acceleration

The ConversationSuicide or accident? The hidden complexities of intentional road crashes in AustraliaDriver suicides account for about 9% of all fatal road crashes but many go unreported. Why are they so difficult to identify and what patterns exist?

**BellingenNSW** @Bellingen@mastodon.au · Jan 18, 2024

Jan 18, 2024

BellingenNSW @Bellingen@mastodon.au

Road deaths
"Australian road deaths rising to levels not seen in nearly a decade."

"Last year, 1,266 Australians died from road accidents involving at least one car and a driver, passenger, pedestrian or cyclist. The economic cost of Australian road trauma exceeds $27 billion each year. That's 1.8 per cent per cent of Australia's GDP."
"Vision Zero: no loss of life or serious injury on roads is acceptable.">>
https://theconversation.com/can-we-cut-road-deaths-to-zero-by-2050-current-trends-say-no-whats-going-wrong-220289

Car dependency in Australia is unquestioned. The 'road toll' is a sacrifice to private mobility in sprawling sub-urbia. The present 'mobility design' gives people no options to travel on (fossil fuel free) public transport, walk or cycle without fear of being maimed or squashed by a SUV.