Learning and resources

Use these road safety plans to understand the broader strategic context of your work and the future direction, targets and priorities to consider for local planning. The plans include key trends, data and research references that may help when you consult local businesses, community organisations, individuals and other government stakeholders. Consider all of these stakeholders when you are looking for support for local initiatives.

• National Road Safety Strategy 2021-30
  This strategy sets out Australia’s road safety objectives over the next decade and includes priority actions to reduce the annual number of fatalities by at least 50 per cent and serious injuries by at least 30 per cent.
   
• Future Transport
  This strategy sets Transport for NSW’s vision for safe, healthy, sustainable, accessible, and integrated passenger and freight journeys in NSW. This includes a vision for zero trauma on the NSW transport network aligned with the National Road Safety Strategy.
   
• 2026 Road Safety Action Plan
  This plan features the NSW Government’s targets to halve deaths and reduce serious injuries by 30 per cent on NSW roads by 2030. It builds on the success of the Road Safety Plan 2021 and focuses on stronger local government action, engagement, education programs, and technology to end road trauma.  
  The plan prioritises improved road safety in local communities and sets out the evidence base for achieving this. You can use this evidence to inform your work. The Towards Zero Collaboration Hub is a key action identified in this plan.

Reports and guidelines

These reports and guidelines establish an evidence base for local projects and emerging issues. They also indicate how we will collaborate with you to deliver priorities at a local level.

• Road safety reports and analysis - NSW Government
• Local Government Road Safety Program Guidelines 2022/23
• NSW Government Response: Joint Standing Committee on Road Safety (Staysafe) Inquiry into Reducing Trauma on Local Roads in NSW (December 2021)
• Joint Standing Committee on Road Safety (Staysafe) Reducing trauma on local roads in NSW (July 2021)

Standards (which host technical and asset management documents)

Standards are process requirement documents that manage the configuration of transport assets and services through their life cycle. 

Transport Standards Portal is the home for technical and asset management standards where you can find information relating to technical directions, guides, manuals, and more.

• By creating an account you can save standards to favourites for quick access, get update notifications, and provide comments on standards open for consultation.
• Refer to the user guide for additional support.

Legislation and regulation

You can refer to key road safety legislation and regulation when discussing enforcement and compliance in the local community.

• Road Transport Act 2013
  Details key provisions and powers for managing safe road use, including requirements and offences relating to driver licensing, vehicle registration, heavy vehicles, use of cameras for enforcement, and offences relating to unsafe driving behaviours, such as drink and drug driving and negligent driving.
   
• Road Rules 2014
  Provides detailed road rules that are applicable in NSW. The Road User Handbook covers the road rules and requirements that apply to drivers. The guide is written in plain English for the community and those learning to drive.
   
• Road Transport (General) Regulation 2021
  Includes penalty levels for penalty notices issued for road offences.
   
• Heavy Vehicle National Law and Regulations
  Apply to vehicles with gross vehicle mass (GVM) or aggregate trailer mass (ATM) of more than 4.5 tonnes. The regulations are administered by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR). They include fatigue management, mass and loading restrictions, as well as registration.

We develop road safety education and awareness campaigns to engage the community and promote safe road behaviour. We encourage local councils and communities to share these relevant campaigns across their channels. Take a look at some of our current and past campaigns.

Social media

Follow our social media channels and promote or share relevant posts in your local government area. Social media assets are available in our Creative Assets Library: 

• NSW Road Safety Facebook
• Transport for NSW Instagram
• Transport for NSW YouTube
• Transport for NSW LinkedIn
• Transport for NSW Twitter

Creative Assets Library

Our Creative Assets Library (CAL) hosts road safety marketing communications, engagement resources and materials (for example, posters, pull-up banners, images and videos for presentations), working files, tools and other content you can use for local public education activities. Locate road safety specific assets by typing 'Transport for NSW – Road Safety’ in the ‘Creator’ advanced search bar within CAL.

If you have any questions, please contact creativeassets@transport.nsw.gov.au.

Merchandise and promotional publications

We have a range of merchandise and brochures available for community engagement. We also offer resources for activities to improve road user education and behaviour.

You can order products via two platforms: Shout and Sourceit.  

Shout is open to the community to order brochures and flyers for community road safety education.

Sourceit is for authorised users to conduct approved road safety activities on our behalf.

To set up an account for your council or approved community organisation or business, contact towardszero@transport.nsw.gov.au.

Creating Road Safety Content

The Content Creation Guidelines document provides you with tips on creating impactful content and guiding principles for best practice in road safety.

Using the Towards Zero brand

When developing communications material using Towards Zero brand, ensure you read the latest Towards Zero brand guidelines. These can be downloaded from the Creative Assets Library.

Contact towardszero@transport.nsw.gov.au:

• To request artwork approval before publishing. Artwork using Towards Zero branding or Towards Zero and NSW Gov logos must be approved.
• For the latest original master artwork files. These should never be altered. 

Font:  

• Download the Public Sans (NSW) font.   

Design tips:

• Develop a strong tag line to support your message and increase audience recall.
• Consider using a QR code on printed material to link to a website.
• Consider incorporating imagery to grab attention and break up copy.    

Refer to the NSW Government branding site for more information and if you are working with a creative agency.  

Examples of Towards Zero brand:

Towards Zero campaigns

Subscribe to our road safety newsletters
 

• Our ‘Towards Zero’ newsletter keeps you up to date with news updates, events and campaigns around road safety. Subscribe to stay in the loop. Read the 2024 road safety events schedule.

• Subscribe to our quarterly ‘DRIVE’ newsletter to stay informed about safety and regulation updates for the heavy vehicle, bus and auto industries.

It’s important to develop a plan that is specific to your community. Take a look at how other councils have developed their road safety plans to gain some inspiration and insights.

• CESSNOCK CITY COUNCIL ROAD SAFETY STRATEGIC PLAN 2020 - 2024 – NSW
• CITY OF RYDE ROAD SAFETY PLAN - NSW
• EUROBODALLA ROAD SAFETY PLAN 2019 - 2022 – NSW
• GREATER HUME COUNCIL 2018 – 2021 - NSW
• NORTHERN BEACHES ROAD SAFETY PLAN 2019 - 2024 - NSW
• BAW BAW SHIRE ROAD SAFETY STRATEGY 2018 - 2022 - VIC
• CITY OF YARRA SAFE TRAVEL STRATEGY 2016 - 2026 - VIC
• MARIBYRNONG ROAD SAFETY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN 2021 - 2030 - VIC
• GOLD COAST ROAD SAFETY PLAN 2015 - 2026 - QLD
• JOONDALUP ROAD SAFETY ACTION PLAN 2016 - 2020 - WA

Here are examples of council-led community road safety initiatives and projects that have been implemented across NSW. These will give you an idea of what other regions are doing to help save lives and prevent serious injuries on our roads.

• Free Cuppa for the Driver - regional Councils across NSW

Western Region, NSW

• Load Restraint Education Project - Parkes, Forbes, and Lachlan Shire Councils
• The Magic Seniors Bus Tour – Wentworth Shire Council

To discuss these projects, call the Western Region team on 1800 167 499 or email western.projects@transport.nsw.gov.au

Southern Region, NSW

• Road safety within WHS framework - Shellharbour City Council
• Pedestrian Plan 2017-2021 - City of Wollongong

To discuss these projects, email the Southern Region team by contacting South_GovServices@transport.nsw.gov.au

Metropolitan Sydney, NSW

• Making the city more pedestrian friendly - City of Sydney
• Road Safety Campaign for Culturally and Linguistically diverse (CALD) communities - Hornsby Shire Council

To discuss these projects, email the Metropolitan Sydney team by emailing gslgrsp@transport.nsw.gov.au

Do you have a useful road safety resource or initiative that you’d like to share? Contact your region’s community partnering team.

• Alcohol Interlock Program
  A court-ordered requirement for some drink driving offenders, designed to reduce drink driving offending in NSW.
   
• Community Road Safety Grants Program
  An opportunity for community groups and not-for-profit organisations to apply for grants to support local road safety initiatives. See case study examples.
   
• Driver Licensing Access Program (DLAP)
  A free program provided by approved DLAP service providers to support people in NSW who face extra challenges in getting a licence.
   
• Local Government Road Safety Program
  Our partnership with participating local councils that raises the profile of road safety in NSW by applying a Safe System approach.
   
• NSW Safer Roads Program
  Our partnership with local councils to deliver sustainable and long-term reductions in road trauma through upgrades of the existing road network through these three programs:
   
  • Saving Lives on Country Roads
    Upgrades the safety of country roads by installing full median and roadside safety barriers, rumble strips and wide centrelines. The program also reviews speed limits on high-risk, low-quality and high-speed country roads.
     
  • Safe and Liveable Urban Communities
    Installs pedestrian crossing facilities, raised safety platforms and safer speed settings in urban places and local streets.
     
  • Transforming the Safety of Intersections
    Transforms the safety of identified urban and rural intersections by providing left in/left out restricted access and treating intersections with fully controlled turns and other treatments.
     

• Random Breath Testing (RBT)
  Information about RBT enforcement by the NSW Police, which has been central to reducing alcohol-related deaths and injuries in NSW since 1982.

• Road Safety Education Program 

  • Safety Town 
    A road safety education resource for primary school teachers, students and families. 

  • On The Move 
    A road safety education resource for secondary school teachers, students and families. 

  • Kids and Traffic 
    Partnership with Macquarie University to work with early childhood services and families on all aspects of road safety, including pedestrian safety, driveway safety and child car seats.

• Road Safety In Your Workplace
  Provides information and resources to workers in their workplaces to encourage them to travel safely on the road network.
   
• Safer Drivers Course
  Teaches learner drivers under aged under 25 to develop safe driving skills and prepare for driving solo.
   
• School Crossing Supervisor Program
  A program funded by the NSW Government to increase mobility and safety around schools by making school crossings and pedestrian areas safer.
   
• Sober Driver Program
  A program to help change the attitudes and behaviours of repeat and high-risk drink driving offenders and reduce their likelihood of further offences.
   
• Sporting Sponsorships
  Sports organisations that partner with us, including NSW Rugby League, the Sydney Swans, the Western Sydney Wanderers and Cricket NSW, play an important role in creating behavioural change.
   
• Traffic Offender Intervention Program
  A local court-based program providing traffic offenders with the information and skills to develop positive attitudes towards driving, and safer driving behaviours.

A range of organisations and programs with a specific interest in road safety target different audiences and road user groups. It is worth contacting relevant road safety communities, institutions, businesses, organisations and advocates in your local government area to collaborate together to deliver road safety actions and initiatives.

• AFL NSW/ACT Indigenous Youth Leadership
  The program helps Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls and boys aged 12–16 to improve their leadership skills in a sporting environment, in their family life, at school and in employment. Participants are taught the importance of road safety as part of the program.
   
• Amy Gillett Foundation
  Works with all levels of government and road authorities, corporate, motoring, cycling and community safety organisations; and the public to create a safer environment for bicycle riders in Australia.
   
• Australian Road Safety Foundation
  A not-for-profit organisation that works to prevent the physical and mental illness, death and disability that result from road crashes and incidents. Campaigns include ‘Fatality Free Friday’, ‘Rural Road Safety Month’ and the annual Australian Road Safety Awards.
   
• bstreetsmart
  A Westmead Trauma Service initiative to reduce fatality and injury rates in young people (years 10 to 12).
   
• Bicycle NSW
  A not-for-profit community organisation that provides members with global comprehensive (personal accident and public liability) rider insurance and a range of other benefits as well as advocacy and legal support.
   
• Community Road Safety Grant Recipients 
  Community organisations and groups with an interest in road safety that have been successful recipients of a NSW community road safety grant.
   
• Driver Reviver Program
  A community program powered by volunteers to address fatigue-related road trauma.
   
• Good Sports
  Australia’s largest community health sports program, which builds stronger community sporting clubs in family-friendly environments with a focus on road safety.
   
• Kidsafe NSW
  An independent not-for-profit organisation that promotes children’s safety, including by keeping children safe on and around roads.
   
• Kids and Traffic
  Partnership with Macquarie University to work with early childhood services, families and local communities on all aspects of road safety, including pedestrian safety, driveway safety and child car seats.
   
• Motorcycle Council of NSW
  Represents motorcycle clubs, associations and rider groups in NSW and advocates for motorcycle rider safety; runs the annual Motorcycle Awareness Month; and maintains a suite of online rider road safety resources.
   
• Pedestrian Council of Australia
  Advocates for improved pedestrian environments and road safety. Facilitates the ‘Walk safely to school day’ event in May each year to encourage primary school children and their carers to walk and commute to school safely.
   
• Road Trauma Support Group NSW
  Provides emotional support and assistance to anyone affected by road trauma. The group’s vision is that no family in NSW will ever experience the death of a loved one through a criminal act of another road user.
   
• Ron Finemore Transport
  A transport company that partners with fleet equipment providers, government, and industry to help advance technology and systems to improve road safety.
   
• Safer Australian Roads and Highways (SARAH) Group
  A road safety advocacy group. Their key awareness campaign, ‘National Road Safety Week’, is held annually.

Looking at state, national and international road safety initiatives can help you uncover advanced technologies and analyse other perspectives – especially those in countries with low road trauma percentages. Assess case studies and research properly. Consider your council’s resources and data, as various states and countries present different road requirements, goals and circumstances.

National organisations, programs and initiatives

• Austroads
  A collective of the Australian and New Zealand transport agencies, representing all levels of government. Austroads conducts research, maintains technical guides and has a program of regular webinars available to watch live or as recordings.
   
• Australian Automobile Association (AAA)
  Regularly commissions research and develops in-depth analysis of issues affecting transport systems, including affordability, road safety and vehicle emissions.
   
• Australasian College of Road Safety (ACRS)
  Membership association with an active chapter in NSW and regular local events. The ACRS organise the annual Australasian Road Safety Conference.
   
• Australian Road Research Board (ARRB)
  The AARB is the National Transport Research Organisation and provides value-added applied research and technical services.
   
• Australian Road Transport Suppliers Association Institute (ARTS-I)
  Undertakes collaborative independent research in the domain of heavy vehicle transport. The outcomes of the research inform the development of policies relevant to the heavy vehicle sector.
   
• Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety – Queensland (CARRS-Q)
  CARRS-Q conducts research, education and advocacy in road safety at the Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane. Publications are available to download. Webinars presenting research findings are occasionally offered.
   
• Monash University Accident Research Centre
  Undertakes research across the spectrum of injury prevention, including road trauma. Publications are available for download.
   
• National Heavy Vehicle Regulator
  Australia’s regulator for heavy vehicles. Runs safety campaigns, including fatigue safety campaigns. Targets heavy vehicle drivers and educates younger car drivers about passing trucks safely, with its ‘Don’t muck with a truck’ campaign.
   
• National Road Safety Partnership Program (NRSPP)
  Hosted by the Monash University Accident Research Centre, NRSPP sends subscribers a monthly newsletter with information on research, activities and regular online ‘NRSPP Tool Box Talks’ and associated resources.
   
• National Transport Commission
  Leads national land transport reform in support of all Australian governments to improve safety, productivity, environmental outcomes and regulatory efficiency.
   
• NSW & ACT Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia
  Recognised as the leading professional association that effectively informs, connects, represents and leads public works professionals in state and local government.
   
• Road Safety Programs | Office of Road Safety
  The Australian Government’s Office of Road Safety supports the work done on the Towards Zero vision by federal, state, territory and local governments and the road safety sector. Learn more about the programs, including the Driver Reviver Site Upgrade program.
   
• YouthSafe
  Works closely with government, schools, businesses and community organisations to prevent unintentional injury of young Australians, with a key focus on road safety.
   

International programs and initiatives

• European Transport Safety Council (ETSC)
  Offers publications and resources on road safety topics, such as vehicle safety, speed, seatbelts, drink and drug driving, infrastructure safety and work-related road safety. Website resources include:
   
  • EU Road Safety Exchange – 12 participating countries work together to share best practice on reducing speed, building safe infrastructure and improving enforcement, data collection and safety of pedestrians and bicycle riders in urban areas
     
  • publications on contributing to safer roads, reducing road deaths among young people, and developing and evaluating traffic safety programs
     
  • ETSC Road Safety Priorities Briefing March 2021 – outlines recommendations necessary to achieve the EU Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030 targets.
     
• International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP)
  Provides an evidence-based approach to preventing unnecessary deaths and suffering on high-risk roads throughout the world. This website contains tools, data and resources on a wide range of road safety topics.