Car crashes – Serious injuries and deaths by road user, gender and age
Too many people are injured or die in car crashes. Having a crash and making a claim may also affect the price of your green slip.
Transport for NSW collects statistics on serious injuries and deaths by road user, age, gender and other factors.
Who was seriously injured?
| March 2025 |
March 2024 |
Change % |
|
| Driver | 3,685 | 3,523 | +5% |
| Passenger | 1,212 | 1,239 | -2% |
| Motorcyclist | 3,199 | 3,003 | +7% |
| Pedestrian | 904 | 932 | -3% |
| Cyclist | 1,869 | 1,948 | -4% |
| Other | 554 | 554 | 0% |
| Total | 11,423 | 11,199 | +2% |
Fewer cyclists were seriously injured while motorcyclists saw the biggest rise in injuries that year.
| March 2025 |
March 2024 | Change % |
|
| Male | 7,581 (66%) | 7,608 (68%) | 0% |
| Female | 3,841 (34%) | 3,590 (32%) | +7% |
| Total | 11,423 | 11,199 | +2% |
Men consistently make up two thirds of serious injuries in road accidents. This has been the case for years.
Serious injuries by age group, year ending March 2025
| Age group | March 2025 |
March 2024 | Change % |
| Under 16 |
1,051 | 968 | +9% |
| 17-25 | 2,290 | 2,092 | +9% |
| 26-39 |
2,314 | 2,411 | -4% |
| 40-49 |
1,423 | 1,384 | +3% |
| 50-69 | 2,752 | 2,760 | 0% |
| Over 70 | 1,578 | 1,578 | 0% |
| Total | 11,423 | 11,199 | +2% |
The biggest increases in serious injuries were for young people under 16 and 17-25.
Who died in a road accident?
Statistics on road deaths are compared with the 3-year average, rather than the previous year.
Deaths by road user, year ending January 2026
| January 2026 |
3-Year average |
Change % |
|
| Driver | 162 | 148.0 | +10% |
| Passenger | 53 | 49.3 | +8% |
| Motorcyclist | 78 | 57.0 | +37% |
| Pedestrian | 54 | 46.7 | +16% |
| Cyclist | 15 | 7.0 | +114% |
| Total | 367 | 312.3 | +18% |
There was a big increase in deaths of motorcyclists and cyclist deaths doubled.
| January 2026 |
3-Year average | Change % |
|
| Male | 283 (77%) | 237.7 (76%) | +19% |
| Female | 84 (23%) | 74.7 (24%) | +13% |
| Total | 367 | 312.3 | +18% |
More than 3 out of 4 deaths were men, up 19% and well above the 3-year average in NSW.
| Age group | January 2026 |
3-Year average | Change % |
| Under 16 |
11 | 19.7 | -44% |
| 17-25 | 74 | 63.0 | +17% |
| 26-39 |
81 | 58.6 | +38% |
| 40-49 |
39 | 33.3 | +17% |
| 50-69 | 86 | 74.6 | +15% |
| Over 70 | 75 | 63.0 | +10% |
| Total | 367 | 312.3 | +18% |
There was a sharp increase in deaths of 26-39 year olds, and the only decrease was among under 16s.
Summary of deaths and injuries
- Rate of deaths per 100,000 population was 4.27 at January 2026. The rate in June 2016 was higher at 5.0 per 100,000.
- Rate of serious injuries per 100,000 population was 134 at March 2025. The peak in December 2013 was 145.5 per 100,000.
- Total deaths increased by 18% while total serious injuries increased by only 2%.
- Men continue to make up 3 out of 4 deaths and 3 out of 4 serious injuries.
- Motorcyclists had big increases in deaths and serious injuries during the year.
Sources
All our information comes from Transport for NSW bulletins:
We provide a Claims Guide for people involved in road accidents.