Australian road fatalities spike in January
There has been a slight increase in the number of fatalities on Australian roads in the twelve months since January 2021.
The Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics (BITRE) has recorded a 2.3% increase in road fatalities during the 12 months to January 2022, according to a release of the latest road safety statistics .
BITRE provides the government with analysis, research, and statistics to inform policy development and understanding in the wider community.
According to their data, in the month of January 2022 alone, there were a total of 101 road deaths. This is a 2.2% rise over the January average for the last five years. So far, this suggests the trend for the next twelve months (to January 2023) is on-track to match the previous period.
In better news, not all accidents on the road lead to fatalities.
AAMI have released their 2021 Crash Index , which is based on an analysis of motor vehicle insurance claims made through their insurance issuer, AAI Limited.
AAMI analysed more than 360,000 claims nationally, finding that nose-to-tail collisions were among the most common causes for insurance claims. Their index also indicates the most likely age group to make a claim are those aged 35-49.
While there are steps you can take to minimise your risk on the roads, accidents are often an unavoidable part of driving. That’s why having a car insurance policy is so important.
Do you have to have car insurance in Australia?
If you are involved in a car accident, whether you are at fault or not, car insurance can help cover the costs. There are three types of car insurance: compulsory third-party (CTP), third party property, and comprehensive car insurance.
But what kind of car insurance should you get? It depends on what you need – or want – coverage for while driving.
In all states and territories it is mandatory to at least have CTP car insurance before you can even think about putting rubber to the road. Check your state or territory’s minimum car insurance requirements, as this may differ depending on where you live. In its various formats, CTP generally covers legal liability for injury or death where you are responsible.
Third party property car insurance is a level above. This is optional, but you might find it useful if you’re responsible for an accident where you damage another driver’s car, saving you from paying the bulk of their mechanic bill. It’s often cheaper than comprehensive car insurance, but it won’t cover your own car’s repair costs after an accident.
Comprehensive car insurance isn’t mandatory either, but if your wheels suit this kind of cover, we highly recommend it here at Mozo. A comprehensive policy can cover both damage to other people’s property and vehicles as well as your own if you’re responsible for an accident.
If you’re keen to take out this level of coverage, explore some of the car insurance features below.
* Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits may apply to any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. These terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits could affect the level of benefits and cover available under any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. Please refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and the Target Market Determination on the provider's website for further information before making any decisions about an insurance product.
^See information about the Mozo Experts Choice Car Insurance Awards