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Australia’s road crashes present a major problem

Road crashes in Australia are presenting a major problem for the health of the country’s population as well as its economy. According to data from the Australian Government road crashes hit the country’s economy annually to the tune of US$20.36 billion (A$27 billion). In New South Wales road crashes cost an estimated A$7 billion/year while in neighbouring Victoria crashes cost from A3 billion-A$4 billion/year. Around half of the cost of road crashes in New South Wales comes from providing hospital treatment
January 4, 2017 Read time: 1 min
Road crashes in Australia are presenting a major problem for the health of the country’s population as well as its economy. According to data from the Australian Government road crashes hit the country’s economy annually to the tune of US$20.36 billion (A$27 billion). In New South Wales road crashes cost an estimated A$7 billion/year while in neighbouring Victoria crashes cost from A3 billion-A$4 billion/year. Around half of the cost of road crashes in New South Wales comes from providing hospital treatment for some 12,000 injured people/year.

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