Executive Director Update
Welcome everyone to the weekly news,
Heavy Vehicle Fatalities Down, But Road Toll Remains a National Tragedy
While Australia grapples with a rising national road toll, recent data offers a measured sign of progress within the heavy vehicle sector.
In the 12 months ending March 2025, 157 people tragically lost their lives in crashes involving heavy trucks. This represents a 17.4% reduction from the previous year — a meaningful shift that reflects the ongoing efforts of operators, regulators, and safety programs across the country.
Breakdown by vehicle type:
Articulated trucks: 10.6% decrease in fatalities
Heavy rigid trucks: 18.0% decrease
Bus-related fatalities: no change year-on-year
While any loss of life is unacceptable, this downward trend highlights the value of targeted safety initiatives such as fatigue management, improved vehicle standards, rigorous maintenance, and accreditation systems like NHVAS and TruckSafe. These outcomes reinforce the heavy vehicle sector’s role in lifting national road safety performance — even as the wider statistics demand urgent reform.
Road trauma rising nationally
This progress in heavy vehicle safety stands in stark contrast to Australia’s broader road safety crisis.
1,353 people died on Australian roads in the 12 months to 31 August 2025 — a 4.3% increase from the previous year, and the deadliest 12-month period since 2010.
August 2025 alone recorded 118 fatalities, 25.8% above the five-year monthly average.
The National Road Safety Strategy 2021–2030 aimed to halve road deaths by 2030 — yet fatalities have risen 18.5% since its launch.
These figures have prompted calls for a federal review, with the AAA urging governments to adopt ‘no-blame’ investigations into emerging crash trends and their root causes.
In fatal crashes involving heavy vehicles:
50% of fatalities are light vehicle occupants
25% are vulnerable road users (pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists)
25% are heavy vehicle occupants
This sobering breakdown highlights the disproportionate impact of heavy vehicle crashes on other road users, and the need for a shared national commitment to safer infrastructure, quality training, and effective compliance.
Regional roads still high-risk
Rural and regional roads continue to record disproportionately high fatality rates, driven by:
Outdated designs
Narrow or crumbling shoulders
Poor surface quality
Roadside hazards such as trees and fixed obstacles
More than half of Australia’s road deaths occur on regional roads, which record a fatality rate of 9.6 per 100,000 people — over four times higher than urban areas. These same routes also carry the bulk of heavy vehicle freight, meaning poor roads increase crash risk, delay deliveries, and accelerate vehicle wear.
Safety and productivity: The road investment dividend
Investing in fit-for-purpose regional freight routes delivers a triple benefit: fewer fatalities, greater efficiency, and lower emissions.
Upgrades such as sealed shoulders, overtaking lanes, and bridge strengthening not only improve safety but also unlock access for higher productivity vehicles like B-doubles, PBS units, and HPVs. This means:
Fewer trips
Reduced fatigue
Lower emissions
Better outcomes for drivers, animals, and freight reliability
Smarter road investment supports both safety and sustainability, helping the heavy vehicle industry contribute to Australia’s emissions reduction goals while ensuring supply chain resilience.
ALRTA’s Position
There is growing consensus across road safety experts, freight industry bodies, and infrastructure authorities that the National Road Safety Strategy needs urgent review.
ALRTA will continue to advocate for:
Until next week — stay safe.