NSW:90 per cent of drunk pedestrians killed on NSW roads are men

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NSW:90 per cent of drunk pedestrians killed on NSW roads are men

SYDNEY, Dec 3 AAP - Men make up 90 per cent of drunk pedestrians killed on NSW roads,a report by a major motoring body has revealed.

Men of all ages accounted for nine out of 10 pedestrians killed on roads in the pastdecade with a blood alcohol concentration measuring 0.05 grams or more per 100ml of blood,the NRMA's report into pedestrian deaths in NSW reported.

The six-month research project analysed pedestrian fatality crash data involving alcoholin NSW from 1992 to 2001.

When broken down further, the statistics revealed 34 per cent of all NSW pedestrianfatalities involving alcohol in the past decade were men aged between 16 and 39.

Men also represented a further 27 per cent of all NSW alcohol-related pedestrian fatalitiesfrom the 30-49 years old age bracket as well as in the over-50 bracket.

"NRMA's research reveals that male pedestrians 16 years and over living in all partsof NSW - even up to 70 years old - are over-represented in crash data and are at highrisk of being killed on the road," NRMA Motoring and Services chief executive officerRob Carter said.

The study highlighted the need for a timely public campaign to confront the trend inthe lead up to the festive season, Mr Carter said.

Pedestrians accounted for one in five road deaths in NSW, the survey revealed.

It also revealed that almost 90 per cent of pedestrian fatalities involving a bloodalcohol reading of more than 0.05 grams per 100ml of blood happened at night, with morethan half of all such fatalities occurring on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday night.

Alcohol was considered a likely factor in pedestrian deaths in outer suburban or regionalareas of NSW, it was also reported in the study.

"These results are surprising and challenge the perception that pedestrian deaths area metropolitan problem only," Mr Carter said.

AAP jts/arb/apm/br

KEYWORD: PEDESTRIANS