National Road Safety Week: Drive so Others Survive

Sadly, every year on Australian roads approximately 1,300 people are killed and another 44,000 are seriously injured. In 2024, 334 people were killed on the state’s roads, with almost 70 per cent of those in regional NSW and around 40 per cent related to speeding.

The overarching of theme of National Road Safety Week this year is ‘Drive so others Survive’, with road users encouraged to make a road safety pledge. So far, more than 73,000 pledges have already been taken online.

The Minns Labor Government is proud to support National Road Safety Week, an annual initiative of the Safer Australian Roads and Highways (SARAH) Group, which was launched by Peter Frazer OAM, following the tragic loss of his daughter Sarah at a road crash.

On 15 February 2012, Sarah, then aged 23, was driving to Wagga Wagga to begin her university degree when her car broke down on the Hume Highway near Mittagong. She pulled into the emergency breakdown lane and called for assistance before another vehicle collided into her and the tow truck driver, killing them both.

From Sunday evening the Sydney Harbour Bridge will be illuminated yellow to mark the start of National Road Safety Week. There will also be landmarks illuminated across regional NSW including the Forbes Town Hall, Wollongong Lighthouse and the Parkes War Memorial.

New South Wales is the lead jurisdiction this year and will host the launch at the Sydney Opera House on Monday night, bringing together road safety partners, experts and advocates from around Australia. The week aims to amplify the impact of road trauma by campaigning to reduce the number of crashes, so everybody makes it home safely.

To coincide with the launch of NRSW, the NSW Government has today launched a powerful new website to shine a light on those affected by crashes on the state’s road network.

‘Beyond the crash: Real life stories’ highlights the people behind the road crash statistics, reinforcing that every death on our roads isn’t just a number, it represents a real person, and a ripple effect felt by families, friends, and communities.

The site features a story wall and interactive map, allowing users to explore crash stories by location. Through these stories, the platform aims to encourage safer driving attitudes and behaviour.

People across the state are encouraged to submit their own stories, which are reviewed by the Centre for Road Safety at Transport for NSW to ensure they reflect the site's purpose and meet community guidelines.

As National Road Safety Week reminds us of the importance of road safety, the Minns Labor Government is committed to making NSW roads safer for all road users, with $2.8 billion allocated in the budget over the next four years to deliver road safety initiatives.

These include:

• Delivering more road safety infrastructure across NSW
• The demerit point return trial that encourages safe driving
• Releasing more ratings for bicycle helmets as part of its star rating system
• Doubling the number of roadside enforcement sites used for mobile speed cameras, introducing an additional 2,700 new sites.
• Using mobile phone detection cameras to catch seatbelt offences
• Removing a loophole to force those driving on a foreign license to switch to a NSW licence within six months
• Tightening the rules for international license holders to switch to NSW licenses
• Introducing a trial of average speed cameras for light vehicles
• Signing the National Road Safety Data Agreement with the Commonwealth Government

For more on National Road Safety Week, head to: https://roadsafetyweek.com.au/

To check out Beyond the crash: Real life stories, visit:
https://www.beyondthecrash.transport.nsw.gov.au

Minister for Roads, Jenny Aitchison MP said:

“National Road Safety Week is an important annual event to raise awareness about road safety and things we can all do to make our roads safer.

“Road crashes affect more than just the people directly involved. They ripple through families, communities, and lives in ways that are often felt long after the crash. Tragically so far this year (as of midnight 8 May) 131 people have lost their lives on NSW roads.

“I’m calling on everyone to make safe decisions on NSW roads, whether driving a car or a truck, riding a bike, or out and about as a pedestrian. Road safety is everyone’s responsibility.

"I'm proud to see our iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge illuminated in yellow to raise awareness of this important week - the Bridge is a key centrepiece in our city and I know that hundreds of thousands of people will see the yellow lights, the projection of the yellow ribbon and NSW’s road safety goal of Towards Zero on the pylons.

“The week is also about reflection, considering the devastating effects that dangerous driving can have on communities. Every death on our roads isn’t just a number – it’s someone’s mum or dad, brother or sister, child or friend.

“The NSW Government is committed to lowering trauma on our roads and we’ve already rolled out a number of road safety actions including the enforcement of seatbelt offences by mobile phone detection cameras, tightening the requirements for international licence holders to convert to NSW licences, awarding a contract for the scoping of 2700 additional mobile speed camera sites and introducing average speed camera trials for light vehicles.”

Transport for NSW Secretary, Josh Murray said:

“Transport for NSW strives every day to put road safety at the forefront and improve safety for everyone.

"The choices we make every day when we get behind the wheel are extremely important and I urge everyone this National Road Safety Week and every week to make safe decisions on the road - please buckle up, ensure your passengers are buckled up and drive so others survive - the life you save could be your own or one of your loved ones.

“The Beyond the Crash website is a place where people who have experienced road trauma can share their experiences and encourage others to have an open conversation about road safety.

“It’s also a sobering reminder how one mistake or wrong decision on the road can take a life - whether it’s your own, someone you care about, or someone else’s loved one whose world is about to be turned upside down.

“We thank everyone who has had the courage to share their loss publicly. The deaths of their loved ones in road crashes caused unimaginable grief which is felt every single day.

“Their stories are powerful and highlight the impact of road trauma. Every time you get behind the wheel you need to drive so others survive.”

President of SARAH Group, and Founder of NRSW, Peter Frazer OAM said:

“National Road Safety Week asks every Australian to reflect on how we actively look after those who are vulnerable on our roads and highways.

“We urge all drivers, passengers, pedestrians and other road users to pledge their commitment to road safety, so that we can ensure that everyone gets home safe to their loved ones, every day with no exceptions.

“I don’t want any other family, friend or professional network, or community to experience the loss we went through when we lost our darling Sarah. She never leaves our hearts or minds for a minute and this Week we are asking people to be aware of their own behaviour on the roads to make it safer for everyone.

“We have to recognise the vast majority of these crashes occur in circumstances that are completely avoidable. It's imperative that we unite to make our roads safer, as every death or serious injury is one too many."

“Along with safety measures undertaken by the Federal, State and Local Governments and emergency services, every one of us using the road needs to check our own behaviour and be a better driver, rider, cyclist, passenger or pedestrian every time we are on the road.”

“We can choose to stop being distracted by phones, to stop speeding, and not drive or ride under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

“Choose to Drive So Others Survive! Make your pledge at roadsafetyweek.com.au.”