Australia’s rural road toll rose by 10.5 per cent in 2025, with 906 people killed on country roads, according to new research released by the Australian Road Safety Foundation (ARSF).
The ARSF found that more than two in every three road deaths occur in regional areas, despite 27 per cent of drivers believing rural roads are safer than city streets.
The study also found that more than half of Australian drivers, 53 per cent, admitted to breaking a road rule on a country road. Speeding was the most common offence at 36 per cent, followed by driving while fatigued at 21 per cent and using a mobile phone at 15 per cent.
The most common reason given for breaking a road rule was that drivers believed it was safe to do so, cited by 35 per cent of respondents.
Risky behaviour remains widespread
The research also found regional drivers were more likely than city drivers to report certain risky behaviours on country roads.
Forty-five per cent of regional residents admitted to speeding in regional areas, compared with 30 per cent of city residents. Regional residents were also more likely to report driving while tired, at 25 per cent compared with 19 per cent of city residents.
ARSF Founder and Chair Russell White said every driver had a role in reducing road trauma.
“Make no mistake, the majority of crashes come down to human fault – whether you live in the city, the regions or the bush, every single road user makes choices that can have deadly consequences,” said Mr White.
“And it’s not just reckless, high-risk driving. The majority of rural crashes happen in broad daylight, on an ordinary weekday, in a single vehicle – on the kind of everyday drive every one of us makes.”
The research also identified a lack of preparation for longer journeys. Among drivers planning trips of more than two hours, 63 per cent did not plan their fuel or refuelling stops, while 58 per cent did not check whether their vehicle was fit to drive. Another 53 per cent did not check the weather forecast.
906 deaths highlight human cost
Mr White said the national road toll represented people who were simply travelling to everyday destinations.
“Every one of those 906 people killed on rural roads last year was heading somewhere – a father picking up a child from school, a daughter heading to the movies, a partner popping out to grab milk. Our job this Rural Road Safety Month is to make sure more journeys end where they’re meant to,” said Mr White.
The research also found that personal connections could be a powerful motivator for safer driving. Forty-eight per cent of drivers said they would take greater care if they knew their actions could prevent someone from reaching their family and friends.
The ARSF said road safety campaigns and reminders can also influence behaviour. The most effective prompts identified by respondents were reading or hearing about serious crashes in the news, seeing roadside memorials and community tributes, and seeing road safety campaigns across television, radio and online.
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