Road safety statistics show the preliminary NSW road toll for 2007 was a historic 60-year low.

This is the fifth consecutive year the road toll has reduced, despite a steady increase in traffic on our roads.

Since 1945, our population has doubled and vehicle numbers are thirteen times higher. However, the toll has only increased by eight per cent over more than 60 years. This year’s fatality per population rate is the lowest since records began in 1908.

The NSW Government implemented a strategic package of road safety initiatives during 2007 to address the issues of speed and younger drivers.

The new figures also reflect:

• A 29 per cent reduction in speed related fatalities in 2007, down by 58 fatalities from the previous year;
• A reduction in the number of deaths from P plate driver crashes, down by 22 from the 2006 figure of 95;
• A reduction in passenger fatalities, with 76 recorded in 2007, the lowest annual number of passenger deaths since those records began in 1939; and
• A reduction in pedestrian deaths, with 67 recorded in 2007, the lowest annual number of pedestrian deaths since records began in 1928.

Note: The 2007 road toll will not be finalised until the NSW coroner confirms the cause of each road fatality later this year. Therefore, the above preliminary figures are expected to fall further.