Worsening road toll demands funding reform

Australia’s peak motoring body is calling on candidates contesting the federal election to commit to life-saving road funding reform, as new figures show the national road toll continues to climb.

1,284 people were killed on Australian roads in the 12 months to 31 March – the worst year-to-March outcome since 2013. Total deaths were up 1.2 per cent over the year, with cyclist deaths (44) up 41.9%, and motorcyclist deaths (272) up 5.4%.

               Source: Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics statistics.

Australia’s motoring clubs want the next Federal Government to require relevant road safety ratings to be published when the Commonwealth announces road funding, so voters can understand why politicians are choosing to fund individual road projects.

The My Safety Counts campaign is this week encouraging AAA clubs’ 9.5 million members to ask candidates how their road funding promises will save lives, not just win votes.

AAA Managing Director Michael Bradley said: “Our polling continuously shows Australians are concerned that political imperatives outweigh community safety when road funding choices are made.

“Around 500,000 kilometres of Australian roads have so far been given a safety star rating, but these are not made public, meaning voters can’t see whether money is going where it’s most needed.

“Australia’s road toll has increased in each of the past four years, and this has not happened since the 1960s, and before the introduction of mandatory seat belts.

“Now is the time for all parties to assure motorists that their taxes are being spent wisely, and that safety is being prioritised over short-term politics.”

The Australian Road Assessment Program (AusRAP) and its five-star rating system is used by every Australian state and territory to measure the safety of the roads we all drive on and how potential upgrades affect safety outcomes.  AusRAP’s engineering protocols are also used in 131 other countries.

The AAA calculates that since 1 January 2025, Australia’s major political parties have announced a combined $17 billion worth of road funding promises, with only one announcement mentioning safety ratings.

Mr Bradley said: “Australian voters are paying for the road upgrades being announced, just as they have paid for the safety assessments being kept secret.

“Releasing them when major projects are announced would show voters whether road funding is being allocated to where it can save the most lives.”

The My Safety Counts campaign offers Australians an opportunity to directly engage with candidates to ask them for evidence about announced road proposals, and their views on evidence-based funding.

Voters and motorists can engage via mysafetycounts.org.au