New research - The unheard trauma of fatal road crimes
Road Trauma Support Group NSW (RTSGNSW) is pleased to share ground- breaking research on the impact of road crime in NSW. The unheard trauma of fatal road crashes in NSW is the first comprehensive research in Australia to examine the impact of criminal road trauma, providing unprecedented insights into the devastating consequences of these crimes.
Criminal road trauma impacts 253,000 people, or four per cent of the NSW population, and costs the state $9 billion.
The unheard trauma of fatal road crashes in NSW, conducted by independent research agency FiftyFive5 and with funding support from Transport for NSW, provides recommendations on how governments and communities can work together to reduce the re-traumatization of victims’ families and introduce measures to keep repeat offenders off the roads.
Findings include surprising attitudes towards ‘acceptable risk’ among the community, the likelihood of preventable deaths among young drivers, and the impact of road trauma on victims’ families.
The report aims to provide governments and communities with ways to work together to prevent criminal road deaths and support those impacted by criminal road trauma.
Recommendations for governments were based on community support for tailoring the Compulsory Third Party (CTP) Scheme, implementing minimum sentencing requirements, establishing full disclosure and reporting of criminal road trauma, establishing victim impact panels, and enhancing support and training for professionals.
For families of road trauma victims who require assistance navigating the justice system, RTSGNSW is available to help. Contact 1800 808 384 or email info@rtsgnsw.org.au for assistance.
The research includes in-depth interviews with people who have experienced the death of a close family member or loved one to criminal road trauma.
