Our Plan for

Keeping Australians Safe on our Roads

Key points

The Coalition has a plan to keep Australians safe on our roads. Whether you live in Dubbo or Darwin, Melbourne or Mount Gambier, Busselton or Brisbane, the roads we travel on should be safe.

Our record $120 billion,10-year infrastructure investment program is helping Australians get home sooner and safer. This includes more than $33 billion over the next four years to make our roads safer.

Infrastructure investment is also driving our plan for a strong economy and a stronger future by creating jobs, encouraging business investment, improving productivity and connectivity, busting congestion and supporting resilient supply chains and freight movements.

As part of our plan to keep Australians safe on our roads, we have committed:

  • $7.2 billion for the Roads to Recovery Program to upgrade of key regional road corridors
  • $5.8 billion for the Roads of Strategic Importance Initiative to improve and maintain our key freight corridors
  • $3 billion for the Road Safety Program to support road safety improvements in regional and urban areas
  • $1.3 billion for the Black Spot Program to fund safety works in road locations where crashes are known to occur
  • $900 million for the Bridges Renewal Program which upgrades bridges across the nation
  • $650 million for the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program to deliver safer roads for trucks and improve productivity.

Road deaths as a proportion of the population fell by 35 per cent over the last decade. But there is more work to do to reduce fatalities and serious accidents.

Building on our record, a re-elected Coalition Government will continue to make significant investments to improve road safety in regional Australia, where there are 10 road deaths per 100,000 persons compared to two deaths per 100,000 persons in metropolitan areas.

Our plan goes beyond improving road quality to technology improvements and addressing risky driving behaviours. The Coalition will strengthen programs that help to combat driver fatigue and support industry innovation.

The Coalition will continue working with industry and all levels of government to improve the road transport network and prevent deaths and serious injuries, including by supporting the National Road Safety Strategy 2021-30 that sets out Australia’s road safety objectives over the next decade.

Labor has no economic plan, and no plan to improve safety on our roads.

A re-elected Coalition Government will:

  • Continue delivering better and safer roads through our record $120 billion, ten-year infrastructure investment program.
  • Deliver the $180.1 million Regional Australia Level Crossing Safety Program to improve safety at regional level crossings, backed by a national education and awareness campaign.
  • Establish a $65.3 million Heavy Vehicle Rest Areas Program to help the road freight industry operate more safely and efficiently, protecting the lives of all road users.
  • Extend funding for the Road Safety Innovation Fund by $12 million to support road safety research and the development of new road safety technologies.
  • Provide an additional $10 million for Driver Reviver Site Upgrades improving amenities at driver reviver locations across Australia, and supporting site upgrades and the establishment of new sites.
  • Invest an additional $4 million in the Road Safety Awareness and Enablers Fund for grants to support nationwide projects that aim to reduce road trauma through improvements in road safety awareness, education and collaboration.

Our Plan

1. Delivering Better and Safer Roads

Our Government’s record $120 billion, 10-year infrastructure investment program includes more than $33 billion over the next four years for projects and programs to make our roads safer, such as:

  • $3.8 billion for the Roads of Strategic Importance Initiative to support the upgrade of key regional road corridors.
  • $2 billion for the Roads to Recovery Program to support the maintenance of the nation's local road infrastructure assets.
  • $481 million for the Black Spot Program to target road locations where crashes are known to occur.
  • $465 million for the Bridges Renewal Program to upgrade bridges across the nation for better productivity, safety and community access.
  • $308 million for the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program, targeting infrastructure projects that improve the productivity and safety of heavy vehicle operations across Australia.

Significant road safety improvements will continue to be a key feature of our major project investments, including the Bruce Highway in Queensland, the Pacific Highway in New South Wales and the Bass Highway in Tasmania.

The Coalition will also expand road safety performance reporting obligations for state and territory governments receiving funding for road projects. We’re ensuring road safety investments are supported by rigorous data.

A re-elected Coalition Government will:

  • Continue to deliver our 10-year infrastructure investment program which has been increased to an unprecedented $120 billion, including $33 billion of projects to improve road safety over the next four years.
2. Regional Australia Level Crossing Safety Program

The Morrison Government has provided $180.1 million to improve safety at regional level crossings through the new Regional Australia Level Crossing Safety Program.

With more than 23,000 Australian level crossings where a road or footpath crosses a railway without a tunnel or bridge, accidents are an increasing concern.

This new program will address these dangers, recognising that each level crossing is different in terms of location, vehicle movement and safety.

Under the program, upgrades will target high risk sites nationally and complement state-based level crossing programs to remove, upgrade and maintain regional level crossings.

The new program will include funding of:

  • $160 million for upgrades to level crossings including improved signage, boom gates, flashing lights and road rumble strips.
  • $6.5 million to deliver a national level crossing safety education and awareness campaign.
  • $5 million to support research and trials of new level crossing technologies and safety innovations which can be quickly deployed.
  • $2 million for improved data collection and risk assessment for level crossings.

Only a Coalition Government will make this significant investment, because we deliver for regional Australia.

A re-elected Coalition Government will deliver:

  • $180.1 million to improve safety at regional level crossings through the new Regional Australia Level Crossing Safety Program.
3. Heavy Vehicle Rest Area Program

The heavy vehicle industry is critical to Australia’s freight and supply chains. Truck drivers do tough work and long hours to move the goods and produce our economy relies on, and driver fatigue is a significant safety hazard.

The Morrison Government understands the importance of heavy vehicle rest areas and their role supporting the health and wellbeing of drivers, as well as the safety and efficiency of freight operations.

The Coalition Government will invest $65.3 million in heavy vehicle rest areas to provide more and improved rest facilities on regional and rural roads. The new Heavy Vehicle Rest Area Program will support the viability, safety, sustainability and efficiency of Australia’s road transport sector.

Funding will be available to state, territory and local governments to construct new sites and upgrade existing rest stops for the freight industry in regional and rural areas.

The new Program will reflect revised industry standards to help heavy vehicle drivers rest, revive and survive. For example, upgrades could include green reflector markings to identify informal truck rest areas.

A re-elected Coalition Government will:

  • Deliver the $65.3 million Heavy Vehicle Rest Area Program to provide heavy vehicle drivers with more and improved rest facilities across rural and regional Australia.
4. Road Safety Innovation Fund

The Coalition Government will provide an additional $12 million to extend the Road Safety Innovation Fund, supporting road safety research and the development of new road safety technologies.

The fund targets projects and initiatives to reduce fatal and serious road crashes, andimprove road safety for all Australian road travellers.

Grants are provided for innovative research, new and improved technologies and products that enhance road safety. Investing in innovative projects now means safer and more sustainable roads in the future.

Priority areas for support under the Fund include:

  • Improving road safety in regional and remote areas.
  • Reducing driver distraction and drug driving.
  • Improving safety for vulnerable road users.
  • Supporting road safety research.

A re-elected Coalition Government will:

  • Deliver an additional $12 million to extend the Road Safety Innovation Fund to support road safety research and the development of new road safety technologies.
5. Driver Reviver Site Upgrades

Driver Reviver is a community program which has been operating in Australia for over 30 years. These sites provide important safety and fatigue breaks for drivers and their passengers – particularly on long trips and during peak holiday periods.

We are continuing to invest in this successful program which has supported more than 100 Driver Reviver sites across the country since 2020.

The Coalition Government will deliver an additional $10 million over three years through the Driver Reviver Site Upgrades Program to improve amenities at driver reviver locations and support new sites.

Upgrades will help volunteers to better manage motorist fatigue, reducing the risk of fatal and serious crashes.

A re-elected Coalition Government will:

  • Provide an additional $10 million to the Driver Reviver Site Upgrades Program to improve existing locations and establish new sites, expanding the current network and reaching more motorists.
6. Road Safety Awareness and Enablers Fund

The Road Safety Awareness and Enablers Fund reduces road trauma through increasing road safety awareness, education and national collaboration. The Coalition Government will provide an extra $4 million to extend the program.

Applications are open to community organisations, road safety groups and local governments. Projects will target a wide range of issues including rural and regional road safety, speeding impacts, driveway safety and sharing our roads safely with all users.

So far 20 projects have been funded over two rounds – delivering targeted campaigns to reduce risky behaviour, increase road safety awareness, install life-saving speed signage and collaborate with the community on decreasing road trauma. This includes funding for National Road Safety Week, Fatality Free Friday and Rural Road Safety Month initiatives.

A re-elected Coalition Government will:

  • Deliver an additional $4 million to extend the Road Safety Awareness and Enablers Fund – supporting road safety action through communication campaigns, research and collaboration.

Our Record

The Coalition Government is delivering national leadership on road safety. This includes continuing to deliver vital road safety initiatives such as our $3 billion commitment to the Road Safety Program. This is on top of the $500 million announced in 2020 as part of the Targeted Road Safety Works program.

The program includes road widening, median treatments to prevent head-on collisions, shoulder sealing and audio tactile lines, lighting upgrades, cycle paths and barriers to stop run-off crashes. As a condition of funding, states and territories must provide road safety data and report against road safety metrics.

So far this program has delivered safety improvement works to more than 19,000km of the national road network and supported around 12,000 jobs. Upgrades are expected to reduce fatal and serious injuries by an average 35 per cent on treated roads.

As well as the $3 billion Road Safety Program, the Coalition is investing in a range of projects through the $120 billion infrastructure investment program, including:

  • $7.2 billion under the Roads to Recovery Program, with an ongoing commitment of $500 million each year to support the maintenance of the nation's local roads. More than 33,000 projects have been funded since 2013.
  • $1.3 billion for the Black Spot Program, targeting road locations where crashes repeatedly occur, with upgrades such as traffic signals, lighting and roundabouts. More than 3,000 projects have been funded since 2013, including 280 last year.
  • $900 million for the Bridges Renewal Program, upgrading and replacing bridges to improve access for local communities and increase productivity. This Program has funded 730 projects since 2015.
  • More than $650 million for the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program, funding infrastructure projects that improve the productivity and safety of heavy vehicle operations.

Our Government established the Office of Road Safety (ORS) in 2019 to provide a national leadership role to reduce road trauma and drive improved road safety, working with state, territory and local governments, police agencies, road safety organisations and other stakeholders.

The ORS is contributing to the implementation of the National Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030 which sets Australia’s road safety objectives, key priorities for action and road trauma reduction. The ORS is working towards eliminating road trauma in Australia by 2050.

The National Road Safety Data Hub was established in 2021 to collate national road safety data. The hub provides data that is accurate, robust and timely – to inform road safety policy, guide government investment in road infrastructure and measure these efforts in reducing fatal and serious injuries.

The Coalition is supporting a range of programs that promote road safety awareness, technology and education, including:

  • $24 million for the Keys2drive Program, which began in 2017 and is delivered in partnership with the Australian Automobile Association. This is a national learner driver program that improves young drivers’ safety before they graduate to their P-plates.
  • $6.7 million for the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP), an independent safety ratings program for new and used vehicles. Consumers areshown how well a vehicle protects occupants in a crash.

The Risk of Labor

There is a clear choice at this election.

Over the last 30 years, Labor has delivered higher unemployment, higher interest rates and higher electricity prices. And not a single balanced budget.

Labor has no economic plan, and no plan to improve safety on our roads.

We have committed record funding of $120 billion for infrastructure over the next 10 years, improving road safety and ensuring hard-working Australians spend less time on the road and more time at home with their families.

Because Labor can’t manage money, they can’t be trusted to deliver strong budgets that provide strong investments in local roads and major highways.

Australians simply cannot trust Labor to improve our roads and make them safer.

The Coalition will continue to make significant investments to keep Australians safe on our roads.

COALITION

LABOR

We have invested in new and existing infrastructure projects in every state and territory, increasing the 10-year infrastructure investment pipeline from $110 billion to $120 billion, a new record.

Labor’s 2021 National Platform only mentions road safety once.

Labor has no plan and no strategy to improve road safety.

Labor can’t be trusted to deliver the infrastructure Australians need to get home sooner and safer.

We have committed over $33 billion over the next four years to make our roads safer across the nation.

The Coalition Government established the Office of Road Safety, the National Road Safety Data Hub and released the National Road Safety Strategy 2021-30.

Cost

Funding for the Coalition’s Plan for Keeping Australians Safe on our Roads is already provided for within budget estimates.