Road deaths have risen by 21.6 per cent since January 2021, when governments began developing the National Road Safety Strategy 2021–30. The latest figures have prompted the Australian Automobile Association (AAA) to call for stronger national leadership, greater transparency and evidence-based road safety measures.
New data from the AAA shows that 1,334 people died on Australian roads in the 12 months to 30 September 2026, an increase of 0.2 per cent compared with the previous corresponding period.
Cyclist fatalities rose particularly sharply, increasing by 35 per cent, according to the association.
The figures come as the mid-term review of the National Road Safety Strategy 2021–30 calls for greater use of national data to identify and prioritise measures most likely to reduce road deaths and serious injuries.
The strategy, agreed to by federal, state, and territory governments in May 2021, aims to halve the road toll by 2030.
AAA managing director Michael Bradley said the review should prompt governments to reconsider their approach to road safety.
“This review should be a wake-up call for every government in Australia. We need a national policy reset because we won’t get better results by pursuing the same failed approach,” Bradley said.
He called for greater national leadership, accountability, and transparency, arguing that governments need to identify which measures are working and where changes are required.
Road deaths vary across jurisdictions
The AAA’s latest Benchmarking the Progress of the National Road Safety Strategy (2021–30) report shows different trends across Australia’s states and territories.
New South Wales recorded 356 road deaths in the 12 months to September 2026, up 2.6 per cent from the previous corresponding period. Queensland recorded 314 deaths, an increase of 1 per cent, while Western Australia recorded 201, up 3.6 per cent.
South Australia recorded the largest percentage increase among the states, rising 16.3 per cent from 92 to 107 deaths.
In contrast, Victoria recorded a 9.7 per cent reduction, from 298 to 269 deaths. Tasmania’s fatalities fell by 14.6 per cent to 35, while the Northern Territory recorded a 12.5 per cent decline to 35.
The Australian Capital Territory recorded 17 deaths, up from nine in the previous corresponding period. Although this represented an 88.9 per cent increase, the relatively small number of fatalities means percentage changes can be particularly pronounced.
| Jurisdiction | Road deaths to September 2026 | Change from previous 12-month period |
| New South Wales | 356 | +2.6% |
| Victoria | 269 | −9.7% |
| Queensland | 314 | +1.0% |
| South Australia | 107 | +16.3% |
| Western Australia | 201 | +3.6% |
| Tasmania | 35 | −14.6% |
| Northern Territory | 35 | −12.5% |
| Australian Capital Territory | 17 | +88.9% |
| Australia | 1,334 | +0.2% |
Source: National Road Safety Data Hub.
Data and accountability under scrutiny
The strategy’s mid-term review highlights the importance of embedding data into road safety planning, from modelling and setting priorities to allocating resources and monitoring outcomes.
The review states that this approach would help governments prioritise initiatives according to their expected contribution to reducing fatalities and serious injuries. It would also provide more timely information about what is working and allow authorities to adjust measures that are not delivering the expected results.
The AAA supports this recommendation, noting that only four of the strategy’s 23 indicators can be assessed using 2025 or 2026 data.
Bradley said governments needed to provide clearer evidence of the effectiveness of their road safety initiatives.
“States and territories are implementing very different approaches to both longstanding and emerging road safety issues without providing evidence of their relative effectiveness,” he said.
The association is calling for a more coordinated national approach, supported by consistent performance measurement and greater transparency.
Fatality rates remain uneven
Australia’s national road fatality rate was 4.8 deaths per 100,000 residents in the 12 months to 30 September 2026, unchanged from the previous corresponding period.
The Northern Territory recorded the highest rate at 13.0 deaths per 100,000 residents, down from 15.1. Western Australia’s rate increased from 6.4 to 6.5, while Tasmania’s fell from 7.1 to 6.0.
South Australia’s rate rose from 4.8 to 5.6, and Queensland remained unchanged at 5.5. New South Wales increased from 4.0 to 4.1, while Victoria declined from 4.2 to 3.8.
The Australian Capital Territory’s rate rose from 1.9 to 3.5.
The differences highlight the importance of examining road safety outcomes across jurisdictions, alongside the measures being implemented to address local risks.
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