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

Last year, 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 Fresh 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 can do to reduce this transportation inequality is to make it easier for Indigenous people to get a driver’s license. This will not only improve road safety. It will bring many other benefits to individuals and communities.

There is a huge 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 among non-Indigenous people was 4.6 per 100,000 population.

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

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

There is also a noticeable gender difference in the circumstances of road deaths involving First Nations people. More than 40% of women’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 a real problem

Drivers without a driving license are in greater risk death on the road or be involved in solemn cases. And one key factor The significant contribution to higher road fatalities among First Nations people is Barriers encountered in obtaining a driving license.

Licensing rates among 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 colonization and the way the laws around driving license are imposed and implemented.

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

What if you can’t afford a car or lessons?

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

Some women have a driver’s license or learner’s permit. Others have expired licenses and are having difficulty renewing them. Most, however, do not have a license. A significant number (with or without a license) do not have access to or cannot afford a working vehicle.

Many women without a license still drive out of necessity: to take children to school, to work, or to care for family. Most, however, rely on walking or getting a ride to get around. Only a miniature fraction of women who had both a valid license and a car expressed a sense of freedom, independence, and increased self-confidence.

During visits to remote communities, it became clear that the Indigenous people who participated in my research did not oppose licensing.

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

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

There are challenges in providing appropriate identification documents (such as 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 significant impact on improving equity in transport and road safety for First Nations communities.

It’s not just about transportation

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

So the problem of confined number of driving licenses in First Nations communities is also solemn the problem of social justice which has an impact on the broader health, well-being and autonomy of these communities.

This means 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 remedy 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 can make licensing more accessible.

Were Community Based Pilot Programs aimed at 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 should be scaled and implemented more broadly, with community support.

Licensing is also a matter of fairness. One in 20 Aboriginal people in prison is serving a sentence for driving without a driving license and other driving license offences.

So First Nations Courts Other programs aimed at diverting people from prison could also lend a hand First Nations people obtain driver’s licenses and limit further contact with the criminal justice system.

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In this article we exploit the term “First Nations people” which we have adopted from Uluru Statement of the Heart.