Road Safety Strategic Planning

Road safety is supported by international, Australian and NSW strategies. These strategies share a common goal: to reduce deaths and serious injuries on our roads.

Globally

The World Health Organisation (WHO) state road traffic injury is a major global public health issue. Around 1.16 million people die on roads worldwide each year, and between 20 and 50 million people sustain non-fatal injuries. More than half of road deaths involve vulnerable road users, including pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.

Road traffic injury is also the leading cause of death for children and young people aged 5–29 years.

The United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030, supported by the World Health Organization, aims to reduce road traffic deaths and injuries by at least 50% by 2030.

Global youth leadership also plays an important role. Organisations such as YOURS – Youth for Road Safety mobilise young people worldwide to advocate for safer roads, build capacity, and support initiatives aimed at reducing road trauma among young people.

Nationally

The National Road Safety Strategy for the decade 2021-2030 sets the direction for road safety across Australia. Australian governments are working together to:

• reduce road deaths by at least 50% by 2030
• reduce serious injuries by at least 30% by 2030
• work towards zero deaths and serious injuries by 2050.

The Australian Government's Office of Road Safety coordinates national road safety efforts and works with state, territory and local governments, industry and communities.

NSW Government

In New South Wales, the Road Safety Action Plan 2026 sets priorities for improving road safety across NSW. It includes targets to:

• halve road deaths by 2030
• reduce serious injuries by 30% by 2030
• work towards zero deaths and serious injuries on NSW roads by 2056.

The NSW School Road safety education program is part of the strategy to support vulnerable road users.

The Safe System approach

International, Australian and NSW road safety strategies use the Safe System approach.

The Safe System recognises that people make mistakes and that the transport system should be designed so those mistakes do not result in death or serious injury. Responsibility for road safety is shared across the whole transport system.

The Safe System focuses on:

• safer roads
• safer vehicles
• safer road users
• safer speeds.