Honouring Lives Lost. Preventing Future Tragedies.
Australia, 12 May 2025: From 11 – 18 May, Australia will come together for the 13th annual National Road Safety Week, a nationwide reminder of the devastating impact of road trauma and a call for every Australian road user to play their part in making sure everyone gets home safely.
The need for more action and behaviour change has never been greater. In 2024, 1300 lives were lost on Australian roads, the highest number of fatalities in over a decade. In addition, more than 40,000 people required hospitalisation from serious injuries that will affect the rest of their lives.
Peter Frazer OAM, Founder of National Road Safety Week and President of the SARAH (Safer Australian Roads and Highways) Group, notes the upward trend is not an inevitable consequence of using the road and certainly not in any way acceptable.
“It is beyond intolerable that so many lives continue to be lost or traumatised on our roads each year. We must recognise nearly all 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," Mr Frazer says.
“Along with safety measures undertaken by the Federal, State and Local Governments and emergency services, every one of us needs to check our own behaviour and actively look after all those who are vulnerable. We can all be a better driver, rider, cyclist, passenger, or pedestrian every time we are on the road.
“I don’t want any other family, friend or professional network, or community to experience the loss we continue to go through following our darling daughter Sarah being killed at just 23. 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 sure everyone makes it home safe every day, without exception,” he continues.
What to Expect During National Road Safety Week 2025
Minister for Roads and Minister for Regional Transport, the Hon. Jenny Aitchison MP will host the 2025 campaign nationally, with events and activations taking place in every State and Territory throughout the week.
This includes:
- More than 130 major icons light up in yellow to remember those lives lost including Parliament House, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Melbourne Town Hall, and Brisbane’s Story Bridge.
- The launch of State and Local Government, police, and emergency services campaigns
- Public pledges and campaigns encouraging safer behaviours
- School education programs, community events, dedicated football matches and roadside activations
- Street banner, outdoor advertising, media, and social media campaigns around road user behaviour
- Law enforcement activities aligned with the Week’s daily themes
Daily Themes for Reflection and Action
Each day of the week will focus on a different area of road safety.
- Sunday 11 May: More than a number: Take a minute to remember the 1300 people lost on our roads in the past year
- Monday 12 May: Your speed matters: Speed is the biggest killer on our roads
- Tuesday 13 May: The road to zero: We all have a role to play, make the pledge to drive safely
- Wednesday 14 May: Get home from work safe
- Thursday 15 May: Road safety for every age
- Friday 16 May: On the same path, please share off road paths with pedestrians, e-ridables, bicycles and mobility scooters
- Saturday 17 May: Yellow ride, focused on cyclists and motorcyclists
- Sunday 18 May: Regional/ Rural/Country Roads
Join the Movement: Take the Pledge
How to support the Week:
- Choose to drive safely and take an online pledge at http://www.roadsafetyweek.com.au
- Let your family, friends and colleagues know you have taken the pledge
- Wear a yellow ribbon lapel badge, yellow ribbon, or display a vehicle sticker available from https://roadsafetyweek.com.au/shop to show that you are a road safety advocate
- Check your local area community boards and council website for events near you
- Visit your local icons when they are lit up in yellow
- Promote your support for National Road Safety Week on social media using #NRSW or #DriveSOS hashtag or share social content from @National Road Safety Week and @SARAH Group
National Road Safety Week Partners and Supporters
National Road Safety Week is a collaborative effort involving government, industry, and community partners. Partners include State and Territory governments, police forces and emergency services, local governments, road safety organisations, community groups and corporate organisations. Together, they aim to educate the public on safe road use and reduce the number of road deaths and serious injuries. This year the New South Wales Government and Transport for New South Wales are leading the Week.
National Road Safety Week Principal Partners are the SARAH Group, Altus Group, Rio Tinto, Volvo Cars Australia, Roads Australia, Power Fleet, 3M, SG Fleet, Toll and Telstra, and gold partners are the Traffic Management Association of Australia, Australian Automobile Association, Intellifleet and National Transport Research Organisation (NTRO), while business supporters include the Roadmarking Industry Association of Australia, TrafficWerx NT and Safe System Solutions.
Key Facts:
Images:
Access images to use at https://roadsafetyweek.com.au/gallery
About us:
About National Road Safety Week
National Road Safety Week is an annual initiative from the Safer Australian Roads and Highways (SARAH) Group, partnering road safety organisations and Government. The week highlights the impact of road trauma and ways to reduce it. Visit: https://roadsafetyweek.com.au/
Contact details:
Media Interviews: Peter Frazer OAM, National Road Safety Week Founder, 0466 968 700.
Media Manager: Louise Nealon, [email protected], 0403 569 177
