The ever dropping road toll

The 2013 road toll is 254 dead, an 18% drop on 2012. This is the 2nd largest percentage drop since 1974. The largest was in 2011 when it dropped 24%.

As you can see the road toll is at a 60 year low. It peaked in 1973 at 843 and then dropped to 554 in 1979. After that it increased again to 795 in 1987. Since then it has generally been declining.

When you measure it per 10,000 vehicles, the trend is stark.