New statistics from Australia’s Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics (BITRE) have reported that the country’s road fatality rate has dropped below five deaths for every 100,000 people.

The BITRE data also shows that the number of road deaths in Australia in the last 12 months has decreased by 9%, as well as the deaths of young adults, which have also reduced by nearly 50%.

"The Australian Government is committed to doing more to ensure our transport networks are safer and more productive."

Minister for infrastructure and regional development Warren Truss said: "Although the downward trend of these statistics is encouraging, the Australian Government is committed to doing more to ensure our transport networks are safer and more productive across urban and regional Australia."

Despite the decrease in death rates, a total of 1,157 people have died on roads during the last year and the number of road accident deaths involving people aged 65 years and over has increased by 13%.

Australian Automobile Association spokesman James Goodwin said: "While road safety is something that affects all age groups, clearly older road users are over-represented in these figures.

"People are feeling healthier into their older years and getting out more, but may not have the same cognitive skills."

To reduce the road deaths, the government has promised to spend $50bn on building the infrastructure, which includes $500m in the national Black Spot Programme and $2.1bn towards Roads to Recovery programme that aims to fix local roads at every council across Australia in the next five years.