First Nations people are 3 times more likely to die on the road – here’s how to fix Australia’s transport injustice

Last 12 months, more than 1,200 people died in road crashes across Australia. However, not all Australians face the same risks on our roads.

Government data in five states and territories show significant inequality in road safety.

Data from New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory shows that Indigenous people in these areas are about 2.8 times more likely to be killed on a road than non-Indigenous Australians.

One thing we will do to reduce this transportation inequity is to make it easier for First Nations to get a driver’s license. This is not going to only improve road safety. It will bring many other advantages to individuals and communities.

There is a big difference

Between 2012 and 2021, 791 First Nations people died in road traffic crashes. This is a rate of 12.7 per 100,000 First Nations people.

By comparison, the rate amongst non-Indigenous people was 4.6 per 100,000 population.

Among First Nations people, those aged 26-39 are most liable to road deaths, with a rate of 20.9 per 100,000 people. While the risk for those aged 40 and older has been steadily declining since 2016, it has increased in recent times for the 26-39 age group.

Indigenous road traffic fatalities occur mainly in the interior and outer regions of Australia and in distant and really distant areas. For example, of the 76 Indigenous road traffic fatalities in 2021, only 13% occurred in major cities.

There can be a noticeable gender difference in the circumstances of road deaths involving First Nations people. More than 40% of girls’s road deaths occur as passengers in cars, and 23% as pedestrians. However, men are more likely to be drivers, motorcyclists or cyclists.

Driving license is an actual problem

Drivers and not using a driving license are in greater risk death on the road or be involved in serious cases. And one key factor The significant contribution to higher road fatalities amongst First Nations people is Barriers encountered in obtaining a driving license.

Licensing rates amongst First Nations peoples are lower compared with the general population. For example, only 51-77% of First Nations people surveyed in various locations in NSW and SA had a driver’s licence, compared with 83% of the general population.

This disparity is deeply connected with the influence driving license are imposed and implemented.

My research (Masterton) in rural Australia shows what this implies in practice.

What for those who cannot afford a automobile or lessons?

In research to be published, I’m exploring the transport challenges faced by First Nations women in rural Queensland. Through writing, interviews and short surveys, I’m uncovering some common barriers.

Some women have a driver’s license or learner’s permit. Others have expired licenses and are having trouble renewing them. Most, nevertheless, shouldn’t have a license. A big number (with or and not using a license) shouldn’t have access to or cannot afford a working vehicle.

Many women and not using a license still drive out of necessity: to take children to school, to work, or to look after family. Most, nevertheless, rely on walking or getting a ride to get around. Only a small fraction of girls who had each a sound license and a automobile expressed a way of freedom, independence, and increased self-confidence.

During visits to distant communities, it became clear that the Indigenous people who participated in my research didn’t oppose licensing.

Research also shows that indigenous people I do not have poorer attitudes towards road safety than non-First Nations. However, the licensing process should be culturally appropriate and accessible to encourage participation.

The low licensing rate is due to barriers equivalent to literacy barriers, the complexity of using a system designed for native English speakers, lack of trust in authorities and the high costs related to obtaining a license.

There are challenges in providing appropriate identification documents (equivalent to birth certificates) and finding driving instructors who can work effectively with Indigenous people.

The high cost of driving lessons, difficulty in accessing a licensed driver to supervise practice hours, and the financial burden of unpaid driving fines further complicate the path to obtaining a license.

Solving these problems can have a big impact on improving equity in transport and road safety for First Nations communities.

It’s not nearly transportation

For many Indigenous people, particularly those in distant areas, the ability to travel safely and legally is crucial to access health care, fulfill cultural obligations and take part in the workforce.

So the problem of limited variety of driving licenses in First Nations communities can be serious the problem of social justice which has an impact on the broader health, well-being and autonomy of those communities.

This signifies that barriers to obtaining a license – whether financial, logistical or bureaucratic – deepen existing inequalities. This has a knock-on effect, restricting mobility and reinforcing disadvantageous social and economic conditions.

How can we treatment this?

Solving the licensing gap requires coordinated efforts across multiple sectors, including health, education, transportation and justice.

Community-led programs, financial support, and policy changes could make licensing more accessible.

Were Community Based Pilot Programs geared toward supporting First Nations people in obtaining licenses New South Wales and New York.

The programs provide culturally relevant, community-based licensing support through intensive case management, mentoring, and addressing specific barriers to accessing and navigating the licensing system and obtaining and reinstating licensure. These pilot programs have demonstrated significant potential and effectiveness, indicating that they needs to be scaled and implemented more broadly, with community support.

Licensing can be a matter of fairness. One in 20 Aboriginal people in prison is serving a sentence for driving and not using a driving license and other driving license offences.

So First Nations Courts Other programs geared toward diverting people from prison could also help First Nations people obtain driver’s licenses and limit further contact with the criminal justice system.