AITPM presentation

1. ROAD SAFETY OF INTERNATIONAL ROAD USERS ON
THE GOLD COAST
FAINKS ROSSOUW
Senior Transport Planner
SMEC
12-15 August 2014
DR. DAVID LOGAN
Senior Research Fellow
Monash University Accident
Research Centre

2. • Introduction
– Scope and reason for the study
– Broad methodology
• Literature Review
– What was reviewed
– Main themes
– Findings
• Data Analysis
– Data sources
– Findings
• Interventions
ROAD SAFETY OF INTERNATIONAL ROAD
USERS ON THE GOLD COAST

3. • Background
– City of Gold Coast hosting 2018 Commonwealth Games
– Increase in international visitors
– What does this mean for Road Safety
– What are the appropriate responses
• Scope
– Identify differences in the road safety of international road users compared to
non-visitors;
– Identify reasons and contributing factors behind the differences;
– Identify intervention options that can most usefully be applied to address the
deficiencies in safety
Introduction

4. • Methodology
– Literature review
– Review of selected primary data
• Road safety at or near venues
• Road safety in general
– Best or most effective responses to address different risk profiles
Introduction

5. • International Visitors and Road Safety
– Limited data
– Relatively small numbers of visitor deaths on Australian roads overall
– Tourists not being identified as a separate user group
– A general reluctance by the tourism industry to highlight health and safety
issues
– Lack of a legal requirement to warn visitors of the risks associated with
driving on Australian roads (unlike many other areas of tourist activity)
Literature Review

6. • Motorcyclists and Pedestrians
– Those born overseas were no more likely to be involved in serious road
crashes than those born in Australia
– Even though drivers and passengers were no more likely to be involved in
serious crashes, pedestrians were significantly more at risk
– Possible explanations include the lack of spatial risk cues for pedestrians
Literature Review

7. • Fatigue
– Contributing factor in 4.2% of serious crashes for international visitors,
compared to only 2.2% for Australian drivers.
• Unfamiliar surroundings
– International drivers were more likely to be involved in serious crashes
involving failure to keep left and head on collisions than local drivers –
Different side of the road
– Failure to keep left contributing factor in 9.4% of serious crashes between
for international visitors, compared to only 2.1% for Australian drivers.
– Fatigue and failure to keep left present higher factors than unfamiliar
vehicles
Literature Review

8. • Disorientation - significant difference in the percentage of crashes
involving international visitors for the following types of crashes
• Angle crashes
• Sideswipe crashes
• Head on crashes
• Single vehicle hit object type crashes
• Other risk factors
– Speeding was not found to be a risk factor in international visitors’ behaviour
– International drivers were less likely to be involved in crashes where alcohol
was a contributing factor
– More likely not to wear a seatbelt than Australian drivers
Literature Review

9. • Rugby World Cup
– NZ 2012
– Auckland and Wellington
• No trends for crashes in the vicinity of the World Cup Venues
• No trends looking at vehicle license types
– High risk factors.
• Crashes around RWC venues (Auckland and Wellington) and in all of NZ for
high risk crash factors (Unfamiliar conditions and fatigue) - Sept to October
Data Analysis
2010 2011 2012
Auckland RWC venue 2 1 2
Wellington RWC venue 1 1 3
All of NZ 238 229 222

10. • Crashes involving international visitors - Brisbane and the Gold Coast
– Crashes per Year – Brisbane and Gold Coast City
Data Analysis
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Brisbane City – All Crashes 6,135 5,928 6,049 5,838 5,830 - -
Brisbane City – Serious Crashes 1,312 1,339 1,411 1,395 1,401 1,271 1,261
Gold Coast City – All Crashes 2,059 2,226 2,402 2,370 2,248 - -
Gold Coast City – Serious
Crashes
557 571 602 593 562 521 526

11. • Crashes involving international visitors - Brisbane and the Gold Coast
– Percentage of Crashes Attributable to Non-Australian License Holders
•
Data Analysis

12. • Percentage of all Crash Types – Brisbane
• Percentage of Crash Types (non-Australian license holders) – Brisbane
Data Analysis
Crash - Nature No %
Angle 10213 ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| 34.3%
Rear-end 8149 ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| 27.4%
Hit object 5428 |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| 18.2%
Sideswipe 1741 |||||||||||||||||| 5.8%
Hit parked vehicle 1517 |||||||||||||||| 5.1%
Hit pedestrian 1342 |||||||||||||| 4.5%
Fall from vehicle 550 |||||| 1.8%
Head-on 393 ||||| 1.3%
Overturned 283 |||| 1.0%
Other 146 || 0.5%
Hit animal 18 | 0.1%
Crash - Nature No %
Angle 192 ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| 48.9%
Rear-end 104 ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| 26.5%
Hit object 53 ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| 13.5%
Sideswipe 16 ||||||||| 4.1%
Hit parked vehicle 11 ||||||| 2.8%
Hit pedestrian 6 |||| 1.5%
Head-on 5 |||| 1.3%
Fall from vehicle 5 |||| 1.3%
Overturned 1 || 0.3%

13. • Percentage of all Crash Types – Gold Coast
• Percentage of Crash Types (non-Australian license holders) – Gold Coast
Data Analysis
Crash - Nature No %
Angle 75 ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| 46.9%
Rear-end 45 ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| 28.1%
Hit object 15 ||||||||||||||||||||| 9.4%
Hit pedestrian 7 |||||||||| 4.4%
Hit parked vehicle 6 ||||||||| 3.8%
Head-on 5 |||||||| 3.1%
Sideswipe 4 |||||| 2.5%
Fall from vehicle 2 |||| 1.3%
Overturned 1 || 0.6%
Crash - Nature No %
Angle 3321 ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| 29.4%
Rear-end 2850 ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| 25.2%
Hit object 2660 ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| 23.5%
Hit parked vehicle 755 |||||||||||||||||||||||| 6.7%
Sideswipe 510 |||||||||||||||| 4.5%
Hit pedestrian 505 |||||||||||||||| 4.5%
Head-on 236 |||||||| 2.1%
Fall from vehicle 218 |||||||| 1.9%
Overturned 188 ||||||| 1.7%
Other 48 || 0.4%
Hit animal 14 | 0.1%

14. • The prevalence of angle crashes is higher in both Brisbane and the
Gold Coast for non-Australian license holders
• In the Gold Coast the percentage of head on crashes attributable to
non-Australian license holders was 3.1%, compared to just 2.1
percent overall
• Non-Australian license holders have a higher risk for angle collisions
– which may be attributed to vehicles approaching from the “wrong” side of
an intersection,
– or drivers misjudging entering intersections for other reasons.
Data Analysis

15. • Single Vehicle Crashes – Gold Coast – Non Australian license holders
• Single Vehicle Crashes – Gold Coast – All license holders
• Non-Australian license holders only half as likely to be involved in a single
vehicle crash compared to all licence holders
Data Analysis
Crash - Type No %
Multi-Vehicle 129 ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| 80.6%
Single Vehicle 24 |||||||||||||||||||| 15.0%
Hit pedestrian 7 |||||| 4.4%
Crash - Type No %
Multi-Vehicle 6917 ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| 61.2%
Single Vehicle 3821 |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| 33.8%
Hit pedestrian 505 |||||||| 4.5%
Other 62 || 0.5%

16. • High risk factors – Gold Coast – Non Australian license holders
• High risk factors– Gold Coast – All license holders
• Non-Australian license holders are less likely to be involved in high risk
behaviours such as speeding or driving under the influence of alcohol or
drugs
Data Analysis
Crash - Contributing factors No %
Drink Driving - Illegal BAC 15 ||||||||||||||||||| 3.8%
Fatigue related 13 ||||||||||||||||| 3.3%
Speed Related - driver 11 |||||||||||||| 2.8%
Crash - Contributing factors No %
Alcohol/drug Related 1849 ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| 16.4%
Drink Driving - Illegal BAC 1268 |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| 11.2%
Speed Related - driver 648 |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| 5.7%
Fatigue related 411 ||||||||||||||||||||||| 3.6%

17. • High risk factors – Gold Coast – Non Australian license holders
• High risk factors – Gold Coast – All license holders
• Non-Australian license holders may still be more at risk to accidents
because of the unfamiliar road environment,
• The data does not point to unfamiliarity with the vehicle itself to be
contributing to significantly more crashes
Data Analysis
Crash - Contributing factors No %
Illegal Manoeuvre 83 ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| 21.1%
Disobey Traffic Light/Sign 62 |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| 15.8%
Fail to Give Way or Stop 50 ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| 12.7%
Crash - Contributing factors No %
Illegal Manoeuvre 1516 ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| 13.4%
Fail to Give Way or Stop 1261 ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| 11.2%
Disobey Traffic Light/Sign 770 ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| 6.8%

18. • Previous International Experience
– Taking adequate rests between journeys, or not embarking on a long drive
shortly after arriving in Australia
– Familiarising themselves with Australiana road rules
– Familiarising themselves with their rental car
– Being mindful of the effects of jet-lag when arriving in Australia
– Plan to drive in daylight hours
– Build in rest stops every two hours to counter driver fatigue
Proposed Interventions

19. • Findings for Queensland
– No prevalence of increased crashes at or near venues of sporting events.
– Therefore, when considering the 2018 Commonwealth Games, it would be prudent
to review the venue specific travel plans in advance of the Games
– Communication strategy in advance of the Games
– International visitors have historically been less inclined to use seatbelts,
– A good practise guide can be developed for implementation by rental car agencies,
targeting seatbelt use by international visitors.
– Fatigue is a contributing factor
– Driving on the opposite side of the road has been found to be a risk factor
– International visitors are more likely to be involved in angle type crashes.
– Pedestrians should be reminded to “Look Right” by having these warnings pained
on the pavement at major intersections.
– International visitors are not more likely to engage in high risk behaviours such as
speeding or driving under the influence of alcohol
– Visitor education should be encouraged throughout their stay, starting with signage
at their arrival at the airport, in rental cars and at their accommodation
Proposed Interventions

20. ROAD SAFETY OF INTERNATIONAL
ROAD USERS ON THE GOLD COAST
Questions
Fainks.Rossouw@smec.com
David.Logan@monash.edu