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The number of vehicle accidents which result in fatalities has decreased over the years thanks to various measures taken to promote road safety. As the number of vehicles on the road has ever been increasing, vehicle accidents have become something very common today. As a result, road safety has been one of the major concerns of Australia for years. Improved road safety can in fact be considered as an important indicator of the society’s progress. According to statistics, the number of fatalities which the vehicle accidents cause has reduced in Australia over the years. In 1970, around 3800 road fatalities reportedly occurred, which was the highest number of vehicle accident fatalities per year that has been reported. The rate of road accident fatalities per capita in that year was 30.4 per 100,000 persons. However, by 2000 the figure declined by half. In 2008, the number of fatalities reported was 1465, and the rate of road accident fatalities per capita had also dropped drastically to 6.9 per 100,000 persons. Despite the population growth and the increased motor vehicle use, the gradual decline in the number of vehicle accident fatalities indicate the success of various measures which have been taken to improve compliance with traffic laws and good road practices. Numerous laws which promote safety of the road users are now in force. For instance, it is compulsory for drivers and passengers of vehicles to wear seatbelts. Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs has been made a serious offence for which both fines and imprisonment can be imposed. Various other measures have been taken to improve the quality of the roads and vehicles. Red lights, speed cameras and airbags are installed in vehicles. Roads are also designed to minimise the accidents. Finally, increasing public awareness of road safety has also been part of Australia’s accident prevention strategy. Improved road safety has obviously caused reduction in vehicle accidents over the years.
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