Australia’s Roads See Deadliest Year in a Decade, National Safety Efforts Stall
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A surge in road fatalities across multiple Australian states has culminated in the deadliest year on New South Wales roads in eight years, with national figures indicating a stalled effort to improve road safety. Preliminary data for 2025 reveals a concerning trend of rising deaths, prompting urgent calls for safer driving practices.
NSW Records Highest Annual Toll Since 2017
New South Wales experienced a particularly grim year, with 355 people losing their lives on its roads – a 28-person increase compared to 2024. The state government announced Friday that this marks the highest annual death toll since 2017, when 392 fatalities were recorded.
The Minister for Roads, Jenny Aitchison, implored drivers to avoid distractions and refrain from driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, emphasizing the need to “take their foot off the accelerator.” According to officials, speeding remains the leading cause of fatalities, contributing to 134 deaths in 2025.
“It doesn’t have to be extreme speeding to be deadly, even a few kilometres over the limit can be the difference between a near-miss and a funeral,” Aitchison stated. Government evidence suggests that a significant number of deaths occur at relatively low speeds, with incidents happening at less than 10km/h above the posted limit.
National Fatalities on the Rise
The troubling trend extends beyond New South Wales. Across Australia, the 12 months leading up to November 2025 saw 1,332 road deaths, according to the national road safety data hub. While final statistics for the entire year are still pending, accumulated state and territory data suggests a marginal increase over the 1,300 fatalities recorded across the country in 2024, which itself was up from 1,258 in 2023.
Queensland has also seen a significant increase in road deaths, recording 302 fatalities by December 24th – matching the total for the entire year of 2024. Police reports indicate an additional four deaths over the Christmas period pushed the state’s toll to a 16-year high.
State-by-State Breakdown Reveals Widespread Concerns
Victoria recorded 288 road deaths in 2025, four more than the previous year. Victoria’s road policing assistant commissioner, Glenn Weir, highlighted the role of preventable errors, stating, “Again in 2025, we have seen so many examples of the most simple and avoidable mistakes that have resulted in catastrophic road trauma.”
Tasmania experienced a particularly sharp increase, with 44 road deaths – a 42% jump from the 31 fatalities recorded in 2024. Authorities reported intercepting over 1,130 drivers exceeding the speed limit in the 11 days leading up to Friday, expressing frustration at continued disregard for traffic laws.
Western Australia saw 181 deaths, South Australia recorded 87, and the Northern Territory reported 38 – all representing decreases from the previous year. The Australian Capital Territory recorded 9 fatalities.
A Reversal of Pandemic-Era Gains
Nationwide road deaths had reached a 75-year low in 2020, coinciding with pandemic-related lockdowns and reduced travel. However, the subsequent years have witnessed a concerning reversal, with fatalities increasing at a rate not seen since the mid-1960s. The introduction of mandatory seatbelt laws in 1969 and 1971 marked a turning point in road safety, but experts are now grappling with new challenges.
Possible contributing factors to the recent surge include a rise in the popularity of SUVs, increased distractions from mobile phones and other devices, deteriorating road quality, and potentially inadequate speed limits on rural and smaller roads. Approximately two-thirds of road deaths in New South Wales last year – 241 – occurred in rural and regional areas. A particularly alarming trend is the increase in cyclist fatalities, which rose from five to 15, including three e-bike riders.
The escalating road toll underscores the urgent need for a renewed focus on road safety initiatives and a collective commitment to responsible driving behaviors.
