The 2023 Road Deaths Australia notice released by the Australian Governments Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics (BITRE) reveals the catastrophic number of people who were killed on Australian roads in 2023.
There were 1,266 road deaths from January to December 2023, which is a 7.3 per cent increase compared to the road safety statistics from 2022.
The Australian Government, along with all state and territory Governments, are committed to Vision Zero, which is zero deaths and serious injuries on our roads by 2050. This commitment to road safety is outlined through the National Road Safety Strategy (2021-2030) and the National Road Safety Action Plan (2023-25).
The Action Plan focuses on delivering tangible and measurable actions, provides clear lines of responsibility and clear timeframes for actions to commence or be finalised.
Through the Action Plan, the Australian Government is delivering several key initiatives and changes, aimed entirely at reducing road trauma across the country.
This includes actions such as:
- Targeted road safety infrastructure programs to improve regional and remote road safety
- Progressing the roll-out and uptake of new vehicle safety features and technologies through new Australian Design Rules
- Building and upgrading heavy vehicle rest areas across the country
- Commencing the review of road safety research to develop a national road safety research picture
- Working with state, territory and local governments to develop a framework to support local governments to conduct road safety network risk assessments and implement road safety policies.
In addition to the work outlined in the Action Plan, the Australian Government is delivering infrastructure and non-infrastructure funding that directly targets road safety outcomes.
This funding includes:
- A National Road Safety Conference in the first quarter of 2024 to bring together Road Safety Ministers and Police Ministers from across the country to engage in the troublesome road safety trends;
- The creation of a National Road Safety Education Campaign to reinforce the country’s road safety culture;
- $976 million to life saving road safety treatment measures across the country with all projects to be completed by mid 2025. The funding is particularly focused on safety measures on rural and regional roads and to provide better protection for vulnerable road users (such as bike riders and pedestrians) in urban areas;
- $40 million per year boost to the popular Black Spot Program, increasing the annual funding from $110 million to $150 million. The Black Spot Program provides individuals, community groups, local and state governments with the opportunity to nominate dangerous intersections or road segments for funding for road safety treatments;
- The Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure Program, which brings together funding for two former programs: the Bridges Renewal Program and the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program. The amount of funding for the new program will also gradually increase so that $200 million will be available per year, up from the current $150 million total annual investment;
- A $250 million funding boost to the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program to assist regional local councils to deliver road maintenance works;
- The first rounds of the new $43.6 million National Road Safety Action Grant Program are being rolled out, with new rounds opening in January 2024;
- A partnership with the Amy Gillett Foundation to deliver a $6 million Safe Roads for Safe Cycling Program which aims to empower leadership and action for safe cycling infrastructure across the country;
- $16.5 million over the next 5 years for the Car Safety Rating Program, which will be delivered by the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) and the Monash University Accident Research Centre (MURAC) for safety rating evaluations for both new and used vehicles.
