Road deaths in the Northern Territory
In 2024, 60 people died on Northern Territory (NT) roads. These deaths included:
- drivers
- passengers
- motorbike riders
- pedestrians
- one cyclist.
The NT continues to have the highest road fatality rate in Australia, and 2024 recorded the highest number of deaths in the past decade. Senior police and former ministers have described the road toll as disgraceful and outrageous.
Because of this significant loss of life, and in line with the coroner’s role to promote an effective coronial system and comment on public safety issues, the Territory coroner has committed to publishing anonymised findings from the 2024 road deaths.
By sharing the circumstances of these deaths, the coroner aims to increase public and agency awareness of what causes fatal crashes. The goal is to help prevent future deaths and reduce the Territory road toll.
The fatal 5
The main behaviours known to cause the greatest number of fatal crashes are:
- drink or drug driving
- not wearing a seatbelt
- speeding
- distraction, including mobile phone use
- fatigue.
Research on pedestrian crashes
The Menzies School of Health Research completed a study examining 10 years of pedestrian crash data, hospital records and interviews with people who have professional or lived experience of pedestrian crashes.
The study aimed to understand why pedestrian crashes occur in the NT and how they can be prevented.
The research was funded by the NT Motor Accident Compensation Commission (MACC).