Executive summary
- 1,324 lives were lost on Australian roads over the past 12 months representing a 6% increase.
- Raising road standards by one star on the AusRAP rating system has been shown to reduce deaths by 50%.
- NatRoad is calling for an urgent review of the National Road Safety Strategy and immediate steps to improve road safety. Governments should improve the safety standards of road infrastructure and extend safety technologies to all new heavy vehicles.
- NatRoad has launched a national reform agenda ‘Road to 2028’ for the government to be elected at the 2025 Federal Election to deliver a safer, more sustainable and productive road freight industry, ensuring Australia’s continued prosperity.
- Coinciding with National Driver Fatigue Week, NatRoad has called out its recommendations to increase funding for heavy vehicle rest areas, and to incorporate rest areas as a factor into safety star ratings. Data shows fatigue causes up to 30 percent of road crashes across all vehicle types.
With 1,324 lives lost and road crashes increasing, the 2025 Federal Election must focus on road safety and rest areas to reduce unnecessary deaths.
Australian roads have seen a 27% increase in the overall incident rate for heavy vehicles over 12 months.
It has been previously shown that it takes raising road standards by just one star on the AusRAP rating system to reduce deaths by 50%.
NatRoad is calling for the Government elected at the upcoming 2025 Federal Election to focus on road safety and stopping the rising rate of crashes, injuries and deaths on our road network.
This was just one of the recommendations that NatRoad, Australia’s largest road transport association, announced in a national reform agenda launched today.
79 people died in fatigue-related crashes in NSW alone last year, a 47% increase on 2023,and the data shows 20 – 30% of all crashes across all vehicle types are caused by fatigue.
This National Driver Fatigue Week, NatRoad is recommending a portion of the funding already earmarked by Governments for road improvements should be redirected to rest areas. Additionally, heavy vehicle rest areas should be incorporated into the criteria within the star rating system.
NatRoad has urged the Government to deliver on its commitment to lift 80% of national highways to at least 3-stars by 2030, while requesting an extended commitment towards achieving 100% by 2035.
NatRoad CEO Warren Clark said, “Both Federal and State Governments needs to lift their game to save lives. In 2024, 1,324 lives were lost on Australian roads, and that number has been steadily rising for the last four years.
“The budget has $120 Billion allocated for infrastructure improvements over the next decade, and in 2013 the cost of lifting all highways to 3-stars was estimated at just $4.7 billion. The money is there.”
The Road to 2028 is anational reform agenda launched by NatRoad, that aims to deliver a safer, more sustainable road freight industry for all Australians.
NatRoad has flagged that Australia is also short of at least 26,000 freight drivers.
The projected increase in road freight volumes by 77% from 2020 to 2050 is placing Australia’s growth and prosperity at considerable risk.
Clark said “The road freight industry is already at breaking point with a perfect storm of rising costs, escalating interest rates and increasing wages. We can’t afford to put drivers and other road users at risk with the continued underinvestment in highway infrastructure.”
“With the upcoming elections, NatRoad is calling on the Government to step up to their commitment to road safety.”
The Road to 2028 covers 5 key outcomes to address the most pressing concerns of the road transport industry.
“There are serious challenges facing trucking operators right now, and we’ve been calling these out for some time. We can’t and won’t wait for change. We must make it happen.” Clark explained.
“That’s why I spent considerable time in Canberra, meeting with Labor, Coalition and Independent members during the first sitting week of Parliament in February, taking them through the Road to 2028 priorities.”
“The future of our industry is at stake here.” Clark added.
About the ‘Road to 2028’ by NatRoad
Five key outcomes have been outlined by NatRoad in the Road to 2028 reform agenda including:
Safer roads
Rest stops should be included in the AusRAP rating system, with funds dedicated towards this. NatRoad is also calling for the existing target of lifting 80% of all national highways to at least 3-stars by 2030, to be extended to 100% by 2035. An urgent review of the National Road Safety Strategy, and greater partnership with industry over all safety aspects is needed.
Skilled workforce
The implementation of a new Road Freight Workforce Action Plan to create a national truck driver standard and apprenticeship program (which doesn’t exist now) along with licensing and training reform.
Defined costs
To ensure cost don’t escalate beyond control, NatRoad advocates that state and territory tax reforms, an independent price regulation of landside port charges, and a review of heavy vehicle tolls be urgently implemented.
Road user charges can also be spread incrementally over the lifecycle of the investment, allowing fewer ‘surprises’ for operators.
Increased productivity
The number of road access permits has more than doubled in the past decade, with over 172,000 road access permits issued in financial year of 2023-2024. NatRoad remains focussed on eliminating 90% of all access permits by 2028. Progress is being made on this outcome, but more needs to be done. NatRoad will continue to apply pressure to the elected Government.
Lower emissions
The Stronger Economy, Lower Emissions policy paper includes $3.5 billion Clean Transport Fund, delivering financial support to smaller freight businesses in making the transition to lower emissions.
The “Road to 2028” is available on the NatRoad website – click here to visit now.
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