What will it take to reduce road trauma?
At a glance
Road safety in Australia has regressed in the three years since aligning with the United Nations’ global 2021-2030 action plan. In 2024, 1,318 people died on our roads, up from 1,258 in 2023, and the deadliest year on our roads since 2016. There were significant increases in fatalities amongst pedestrians and motorcyclists, and 40- to 64-year-olds were the most represented cohort in fatal crashes.
Our Road Safety Insights for Future Generations report has shown that the rest of the Anglosphere is facing similar challenges in reducing road trauma. To mitigate this rising trend, it is critical for policymakers, transport agencies and local governments to delve into effective, data-driven strategies around speed management, funding allocation and community engagement.
Speed management
Lowering speed limits
The implementation of speed management systems around schools, parks, shops and local streets has been effective in enhancing community safety, especially with protecting children who are among the most vulnerable road users.
As more communities become aware of these benefits, calls for lower speed limits are echoing across more neighbourhoods. This has prompted local authorities to more closely monitor speeds and recommend additional measures such as infrastructure improvements.
Engineering road user behaviour
Legislating and enforcing speed management
Funding allocation for local governments
Allocation and access to funding are essential for local governments, which own and manage more than 70 per cent of our roads. Their dependence on grants and programs from higher levels of government limits what they can achieve. Delivery time frames, scope limitations, reactive assessments and co-contribution obligations impede effective funding in areas where the risk is most significant.
To better facilitate funding, there needs to be a shift towards systemic program treatments that use emerging data sets and advanced analytics. By adopting a data-driven approach, local governments can direct financial resources to where they are most needed, maximising the impact of road safety initiatives.
Collaborative funding approaches are crucial to overcoming these challenges. Partnering with higher levels of government, private organisations and community groups allows local governments to combine resources and expertise to address road safety challenges more efficiently and cost effectively, and mitigates bottlenecks in resource allocation. There also needs to be transparency in funding to signal commitment to protecting the community, generating support from affected road users in the process.
Community engagement
Traditional methods of communicating the importance of road safety through a disciplinary perspective may no longer be effective with the public. Instead of presenting speed management as punishing drivers, it should be framed as a shared responsibility that protects lives and creates more liveable places. Involving the community in discussions and emphasising the mutual benefits of safer roads encourages a sense of ownership and commitment to road safety.
With community feedback and data analysis, road safety interventions can be effectively assessed and adjusted accordingly, with resources allocated more efficiently to initiatives that are proven to work.
Political support driven by community demand
Engaging with the community involves building public sentiment that drives political will, not just explaining speed measures, or telling people to do the “right thing”. Political leaders are more likely to support road safety initiatives and provide funding when they see strong community demand. Tailored engagement and storytelling can significantly impact public perception.
Real-life stories of lower speed limits enhancing air quality, reducing noise and making neighbourhoods more vibrant can frame safety measures like automated enforcement as a community safeguard that improves daily lives by influencing behaviours.
Proactive engagement and anticipating issues
Collaboration and commitment
A comprehensive, data-driven strategy that incorporates speed management, community engagement and legislative support can deliver significant improvements to road safety. Developing and executing these strategies requires collaboration between policymakers, transport agencies, local governments and the public, underscoring the shared responsibility of protecting all road users. To reverse the rising rates of road trauma and achieve long-term road safety goals that benefit future generations, we all need to make a sustained commitment to making roads safer.
To learn more about our road safety insights, watch our webinar or download the report.