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Road Safety
The Department provides evidence-based advice on a range of road safety issues, contributing to the development of informed road safety policies. It also coordinates a number of national stakeholder bodies and events, including the biennial Indigenous Road Safety Forum.
The annual economic cost of road crashes in Australia is enormous—conservatively estimated at $18 billion per annum—and the social impacts are devastating. Besides lives cut tragically short, debilitating injuries often result in pain, grief and suffering that have lifelong impacts on victims, families and communities.
Since record keeping commenced in 1925, there have been over 180,000 deaths on Australia’s roads. However, road trauma levels have declined substantially over the last four decades, despite considerable population growth and a threefold increase in registered motor vehicles. During this period, the number of road deaths per year has fallen from 3,798 deaths in 1970 to 1,368 in 2010.
What’s new
National Road Safety Strategy 2011–2020
The National Road Safety Strategy 2011–2020 was released on 20 May 2011 by the Australian Transport Council.
Australian launch of Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011–2020
The Australian Government is supporting global efforts to reduce deaths and injuries caused by road crashes. The Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011–2020 was launched on 11 May 2011 with rolling 24-hour events in each of the world’s time zones, including an Australian launch at Parliament House.
Indigenous Road Safety Video
Being Safe, Not Sorry—Improving road safety for Indigenous Australians, presented by Catherine Liddle
This program highlights current initiatives that increase Indigenous Australians’ road safety knowledge to help prevent deaths on the roads. These initiatives range from educational plays, creative song competitions and programs aimed at assisting indigenous Australians qualify for their driver’s license.
This page provides links to information addressing road safety. Please follow the links below for details on the topic of interest.
The Strategy sets out nationally agreed objectives, targets and priorities for road safety improvement in Australia. It is an initiative of the Australian Transport Council.
Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011–2020
The Australian Government is supporting the Decade of Action for Road Safety.
keys2drive Help for Learner Drivers and Parents
The Government is funding the Australian Automobile Association to manage an important and innovative road safety initiative—keys2drive—which will provide a free driving lesson to learner drivers and their parents.
The Prime Minister announced on the 19 September 2007 that the Australian Government will provide $40 million over the next four years for a new safety initiative for school buses.
Follow this link to view all road safety education material, research and analysis reports, statistical information and brochures.
The department produces a range of statistical information relating to Australian road fatalities. Links to these reports can be found on this page.
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The department encourages collaborative efforts around Australia to improve road safety for Indigenous Australians.
In December 2004, the Australian, Victorian and NSW Governments jointly announced plans to develop and trial a post-licence driver education program in partnership with the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI), the NSW-based Insurance Australia Group (IAG) and the Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV).
Surveys of Community Attitudes to Road Safety
The Department commissions an annual series of national surveys on Australian road safety issues, known as the Survey of Community Attitudes to Road Safety.
This link takes you to a list of Bulletins, Reports and detailed Vehicle Safety information.

