Road Deaths Important - Cancer deaths NOT

The Australian Government puts an enormous emphasis on the amount of road deaths on Australian roads which is termed the Road Toll, in that it has embarked on a media campaign that SPEED KILLS.

From an official government source :


During the 12 months ended January 2010, there were a total of 1,513 deaths.
- this is a 4.6 per cent increase over the 12 month period ended January 2009.

ref: http://www.bitre.gov.au/publications/51/Files/rda_jan2010.pdf


Again this figure, although correct is doctored for a specific government agenda.

Whilst it may be correct that there has been an increase of fatalities, of 4.6%, since there is an increase in population and an average growth rate in the car market of 12%, the ACTUAL road toll has DECREASED.

In Australia, there has been an approximate 4,600 deaths due to bowl cancer, or an approximate 3 times the amount of deaths than on Australian Roads.

On Australian TV the government is advertising frequently that SPEED KILLS, and although as tragic as any death may be this is a small percentage of deaths of the Australian people.

The difference is that the government makes:
HUNDREDS of MILLIONS of dollars from speeding fines revenue,
whereas the government would have to SPEND money on bowl cancer research / prevention.

NOT A GOOD accounting practice to focus on (for example) bowl cancer.