Road Safety

The Department contributes to the development of informed road safety policies by collecting and disseminating national road crash statistics, producing research and public information materials, and providing evidence-based advice on a range of road safety issues. 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 178,000 deaths on Australia's roads. However, road trauma levels have declined dramatically over the last four decades, despite substantial population growth and a threefold increase in registered motor vehicles. Between 1970 and 2008, the nation's annual road fatality rate declined from 30.4 to 6.8 deaths per 100,000 people.

What's new
5th Indigenous Road Safety Forum, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales 10-12 November 2010 The Department, in conjunction with the New South Wales Roads and Traffic Authority, will hold the 5th Indigenous Road Safety Forum in Coffs Harbour from 10 to 12 November 2010.
Community Attitudes to Road Safety - 2009 survey report This report documents the findings from the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government's 2009 survey of community attitudes to road safety.
Road Safety Research Grant 2009-005: The effects of Electronic Stability Control interventions on rural road crashes in Australia: Simulation of real world crashes. About 60 per cent of all fatal road crashes in Australia occur on rural roads. While advances have been made in reducing the number of fatal crashes on metropolitan roads, the number of fatal crashes on rural roads remains relatively steady. Electronic Stability Control (ESC) is an active safety system which has shown potential in preventing crashes on high speed rural roads.
The Good Gear Guide for Motorcycle and Scooter Riders A pocket guide to Motorcyle and Scooter gear.
Used Car Safety Ratings 2009 Used Car Safety ratings for passenger vehicles built 1992-2007.
International Road Safety Comparisons: The 2007 Report This report provides summary road deaths and road death rates for Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) nations and for Australian states and territories.
Road Deaths Australia, 2008 Statistical Summary This annual publication presents a statistical summary of Australian fatal road crashes and road deaths.

This page provides links to information addressing road safety. Please follow the links below for details on the topic of interest.

• keys2drive Help for Learner Drivers and Parents

  The Government's 2008-09 Budget will deliver $17 million over five years to fund an important and innovative road safety initiative - keys2drive - which will provide more than 200,000 free driving lessons to learner drivers and their parents.

• Seatbelts for Kids

  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.

• Road Safety Publications

  Follow this link to view all road safety education material, research and analysis reports, statistical information and brochures.

• Order Road Safety Education material online

  Order Road Safety education material online.

• Road Crash Statistics

  The department produces a range of statistical information relating to Australian road fatalities. Links to these reports can be found on this page.

• National Road Safety Strategy

  The Strategy provides a framework which complements the road safety strategies of individual state, territory and local governments. The target of the strategy is to reduce the annual number of road fatalities.

• Indigenous Road Safety

  The department encourages collaborative efforts around Australia to improve road safety for Indigenous Australians.

• P Drivers Project

  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.

• Vehicle Safety

  This link takes you to a list of Bulletins, Reports and detailed Vehicle Safety information.