Road safety

Queensland road safety governance

The Queensland Road Safety Program was established to ensure a robust and rigorous governance framework to support the Queensland Government to achieve the ambitious road safety targets outlined in the Queensland Road Safety Strategy 2022–2031 .

The Queensland Road Safety Program is enabling a cultural shift in the government's approach to road safety investment. It promotes collaboration and outcomes-based strategies to help ensure the program is on track to reduce road fatalities by 50 per cent and serious road injuries by 30 per cent by 2031.

A key focus of the Queensland Road Safety Program has been continuing to embed, enhance, and mature practices and processes to ensure effective and efficient operations. A significant focus has been on improving program reporting and investment decision-making processes, ensuring that decisions are evidence-based and data-driven. This approach aims to optimise investments to reduce fatalities and serious injuries, aligning with the targets of the Queensland Road Safety Strategy.

Flashing school zone signs

Children are safer travelling to and from school thanks to flashing school zone signs now operating in 1570 school zones across Queensland.

Funded by the Camera Detected Offence Program (CDOP), new flashing school zone signs are earmarked for 100 school zones annually. Sites are prioritised for the treatment based on crash history, number of children using the road, traffic volume, visibility, and other local inputs.

Of the 100 school zones identified for delivery in 2024–25, 55 per cent are located in the south-east and southern areas of the state, while 45 per cent are located in central and northern Queensland.

Since August 2023, the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) has also been piloting a new Roadways Behaviour Monitoring System (speed camera technology), with portable cameras being rotated across 24 high-risk school zones.

Case study: Billy Slater's road safety collaboration

Former NRL player and Queensland State of Origin coach Billy Slater was engaged to front the StreetSmarts road safety initiative 'One Team Queensland'. This initiative, designed to influence Queenslanders to drive safely, utilised Billy Slater's profile and popularity to target the high-risk audience of men under 40, who make up the majority of Billy Slater's social media followers.

The first phase of this collaboration launched in 2024, featuring six videos for social media and outdoor billboards in regional Queensland. The 'One Team Queensland' message is designed to tap into the pride of Queenslanders, encouraging them to drive as one team and change their behaviour. The series of content focused on the fatal five driving behaviours of drink driving, seatbelts, speed, distractions, and fatigue.

The content performed well on social media, reaching over 598,000 people across StreetSmarts social channels and Billy Slater's Instagram, and the most shared content was the drink driving video. The 'One Team Queensland' message was extended to promote Queensland Road Safety Week in August 2024, featuring Billy Slater's image to encourage Queenslanders to show their support for road safety.

For more information: https://streetsmarts.initiatives.qld.gov.au/fatal-five/

Community Road Safety Grants scheme

In 2024–25, the Community Road Safety Grants scheme awarded $846,154 to support 47 community organisations to develop and deliver effective road safety education initiatives that support people to be safer road users.

Since 2013, the Community Road Safety Grants scheme has awarded more than $54 million to 691 community-based road safety education initiatives. This includes more than $28 million awarded to 18 organisations to deliver recurrent, long-term road safety education programs from 2022 through to 30 June 2026.

Examples of grants awarded during 2024–25 included:

• $455,000 shared amongst 26 community groups to provide opportunities for motorcycle riders to undertake subsidised post-licence training courses to improve their safe riding skills and on-road behaviours
• $38,953 to Alcohol and Drug Foundation Incorporated to deliver road safety education campaigns and workshops to sporting clubs in regional and remote Queensland communities
• $36,364 to Townsville Hospital and Health Service to deliver young driver road safety education to high school students
• $36,364 to Safer Australian Roads and Highways Inc to develop educational resources to educate the public on traffic controller safety in Queensland
• $22,500 to Queensland African Communities Council Incorporated to deliver driving lessons and road safety education to people from culturally and linguistic diverse backgrounds
• $9965 to Kidsafe Queensland Incorporated to purchase child car restraints for newborns and provide fitting courses in the Doomadgee Aboriginal Shire
• $8200 to QPS—Sunshine Coast Highway Patrol to present towing safety workshops focusing on knowledge, skills, and awareness promoting safer towing.

For more information: http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/roadsafetygrants

School Transport Infrastructure Program

The School Transport Infrastructure Program (STIP) is designed to enhance the safety and operation of schools through funding of new or upgraded infrastructure at schools and on the adjoining road network. Funded by the state, this initiative delivers long-term infrastructure solutions to protect vulnerable school-aged children.

In 2022, $40 million was provided to deliver STIP projects from 2022–23 to 2025–26. Since starting in 2018–19, 127 projects have been delivered under the STIP. Works have included carpark upgrades; construction of stop, drop, and go zones; and footpaths and children's crossings. An additional 67 new projects were approved for delivery in 2024–25.

The STIP enhances the current efforts of the Queensland Government to boost safety in and near Queensland schools. It is in addition to initiatives such as the Flashing School Zone Signs program, the School Crossing Supervisor Scheme, and the Community Road Safety Grants Program.

STIP also complements the Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme (TIDS), providing funding to local governments for road and transport-related initiatives that support road safety objectives.

STIP projects delivered in 2024–25 included:

• construction of children's crossing, footpath and signage at Oonoonba State School
• construction of footpath at Emmaus College, Rockhampton
• installation of footpaths and upgraded school crossing at Alpha State School.

StreetSmarts road safety campaigns

StreetSmarts is an integral part of the Queensland road safety program to support road safety interventions and drive positive behaviour change on Queensland roads.

Key campaigns in 2024–25 included:

• 'How's Your Ride Craft?' motorcycle safety (July 2024 to June 2025): Influenced motorcycle riders to consider their skills and practice safe riding.
• 'In your hands' drink driving (December 2024 to January 2025): A creative campaign highlighting drink driving, which won a national award for its collaboration with the Betoota Advocate.
• 'No Excuse for Speeding' (August–September 2024 and April–May 2025): Highlighted the common excuses people make when speeding and convinced 74 percent of drivers to stick to the speed limit.
• Regional outdoor billboards (May 2024 to May 2025): Billboards placed in high-risk crash zones to remind drivers to stay safe on the road.
• StreetSmarts' digital online community education program (2024–25): actively engaged 1–2 million people each month, fostering positive on-road habits among Queensland's diverse digital audience.

StreetSmarts is committed to ongoing innovation to expand road safety education across Queensland. In 2024–25, StreetSmarts:

• Partnered with live streaming gaming platform Twitch: Reached 344,369 young people with road safety information through video content and activations. This included engaging with highly regarded professional gamers to host innovative gaming sessions illustrating the risks of the Fatal Five — drink driving, fatigue, seatbelts, distractions, and speed.
• Hosted the Co-Lab Youth Road Safety Challenge: Brought together over 40 young people, aged 18–24, to develop scroll-stopping e-scooter safety content to persuade their peers to prioritise safety when riding. The winning team turned their 'Safety, it takes you places' idea into e-scooter safety posts for StreetSmarts' social media channels.
• Leveraged geo-targeted programmatic audio advertising on Spotify: Innovatively reached Queensland drivers with road safety messages relevant to their real-time driving conditions and locations such as slowing down in school zone hours, looking out for vulnerable road users, and driving to the conditions during wet weather events.

For more information: https://streetsmarts.initiatives.qld.gov.au/

Case study: Working with partners to promote road safety

StreetSmarts uses sponsorship to promote road safety to Queenslanders by leveraging the profile of partners to reach new audiences, drive behaviour change, create opportunities to engage with the community, and deliver road safety messaging in a different way. Some of the unique ways that road safety was promoted in 2024–25 included:

Road Safety Cup (Queensland Cricket partnership)

Since 2023, an annual contest between the Brisbane Heat and Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League men's and women's competitions has been held. This match taps into interstate rivalries and shines a spotlight on road safety for cricket fans at the game and at home through the broadcast. A player from each team also wears a zero on their back to symbolise the long-term vision of zero lives lost on Queensland roads.

Designated Driver Appreciation (Gold Coast SUNS partnership)

To support TMR's drink driving campaign promoted within the stadium, the Gold Coast SUNS reward designated drivers at their home games with a free non-alcoholic drink.

'On the road to success' (North Queensland Cowboys partnership)

This road safety education module has been developed with the Cowboys for their community team to deliver in North Queensland high schools as part of their successful 'Try Time!' program.

For more information: https://streetsmarts.initiatives.qld.gov.au/

Road Safety Data Bureau

To better understand the impact of road trauma in Queensland, the Road Safety Data Bureau was established in 2019 to analyse road safety data from various government agencies. The team includes representatives from TMR, the QPS, Queensland's Motor Accident Insurance Commission, and Queensland Health via the Jamieson Trauma Institute.

The results of the analysis help inform whole-of-government decision-making and approaches to road safety policy and programs.

Achievements in 2024–25 included:

• Queensland Road Safety Strategy Modelling and Forecasting: This project developed forecast models for road crash fatalities and hospitalised casualties for 2024 to 2028 based on historic data from January 2014 to December 2023. These models were produced to support the Queensland Road Safety Strategy.
• Senior Adult Road Users (data linkage): The aim of this project was to gain a better understanding of senior adult road user serious injuries using linked road crash, hospital admissions, and claims data. Using linked data expanded both the understanding of unreported serious road crash injuries for senior adult road users and the relationship between crash and personal characteristics on the nature and severity of these injuries.

Queensland Road Safety Week

The tenth Queensland Road Safety Week, was held between 26 to 30 August 2024, and promoted safer driving behaviour through the theme 'We're One Team Queensland. Let's drive like it.'

Featured landmarks were lit yellow as a prominent declaration to Queenslanders, and supporters were encouraged to wear yellow to raise awareness and invite conversations around road safety.

More than 81 community events were held, with 167 media mentions across radio, online, newspapers, and TV news stories.

The campaign included StreetSmarts' social media posts, videos featuring StreetSmarts sporting partners, and roadside messaging to promote road safety.

More than 200 Queenslanders submitted their photo to be featured on roadside billboards across the state to remind Queenslanders to keep themselves and others safe on our roads.

For more information: https://streetsmarts.initiatives.qld.gov.au/queensland-road-safety-week-2024/

Targeted road safety program

The Targeted Road Safety Program aims to improve network safety and reduce the impacts of road trauma for road users through cost effective, high-benefit road infrastructure interventions and other safety initiatives on the state-controlled and local government road networks.

Funding for the Targeted Road Safety Program is mainly sourced from the Camera Detected Offence Program and the Australian Government Road Safety Program. The Targeted Road Safety Program has 15 sub-programs, including:

• Safer Roads Sooner
• Black Spot Program
• Mass Actions
• Route Actions
• School Transport Infrastructure Program
• Vulnerable Users.

During 2024–25, the Targeted Road Safety Program delivered around $500 million in safety measures throughout Queensland targeting high-risk crash locations or other identified safety issues.

Key projects delivered in 2024–25 included:

• upgrading the intersection of Flinders Highway and Wills Developmental Road, Julia Creek
• upgrading cyclist and pedestrian facilities at the intersection of Nicklin Way, Meridian Street, and Beach Drive, Bokarina
• upgrading the intersection of The Link Way and Bell Place, Mudgeeraba.

Queensland Road Safety Strategy and Action Plan

In 2024–25, TMR continued to deliver on the Queensland Road Safety Strategy 2022–31 and Queensland Road Safety Action Plan 2022–24, which were released in April 2022.

Priority actions delivered included:

• Journi, online road safety education program for years five and six
• health and driving education hub
• comprehensive review of drug driving
• trialling behaviour change technology targeting tailgating
• investigation of place-based approaches to road safety
• ongoing expansion of the road safety camera program, including Hold the Red technology.

These initiatives build on Queensland's ongoing investment into road safety infrastructure through the Targeted Road Safety Program, which funds treatments such as intersection upgrades, shoulder widening, safer roadsides, barrier installation, flashing school zone signs, and wide centre line treatments.

Work to develop the next Action Plan for 2025–28 and refresh the Strategy is underway, reaffirming Queensland's commitment to a vision of zero serious road trauma by 2050.

40 years of school crossing safety

For 40 years, TMR's School Crossing Supervisor Scheme has provided safe passage for millions of students travelling to and from school.

The delivery of supervised school crossings is a joint effort between the Queensland Government, local councils, and school communities.

Over 2000 school crossing supervisors operate more than 1300 crossings at Queensland schools in rain and shine.

Since the scheme began in 1984, not a single fatality has occurred at a supervised crossing in Queensland, largely thanks to the commitment and dedication school crossing supervisors have for their jobs and community road safety.

Many school crossing supervisors have served their communities for years, even decades, forming close and lasting bonds with the children and families they help protect.

Three of the original school crossing supervisors also celebrated 40 years of service in the job in conjunction with the scheme's anniversary.

Tailgating Behavioural Awareness Monitors trial

Tailgating is a major contributor to road trauma in Queensland. Through the Behaviour Awareness Monitors research and development project, TMR is prototyping new technology designed to inform and educate drivers about tailgating. In 2024–25, the trial progressed to the on-road testing phase.

This Australian-first technology gives drivers immediate feedback on unsafe tailgating behaviour and 'nudges' behaviour change. It uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to detect tailgating and provides a real time, targeted message to drivers via a variable message sign. 

Drivers receive a positive message when they are travelling at a safe distance, and a warning message when they are too close. Fines are not issued.

Site locations have not been promoted to ensure accurate pre- and post-intervention data.

Final results will be independently analysed to determine the future viability of the technology and how it influences overall driver behaviour change.

Case Study: 'In your hands' drink driving campaign

StreetSmarts' “In Your Hands” campaign aimed to reduce drink driving among Queensland males aged 18–39 by highlighting the serious consequences of impaired driving.

Running from December 2024 to February 2025, the campaign used a multi-channel approach including TV, digital, social media, outdoor, cinema, and sponsorships with sporting partners. The creative featured hard-hitting messages like “Dead Mate and Dry” and “Smashed Skull and Soda,” which resonated strongly with the target audience.

The campaign reached 62 million people, had seven million video views and received over 60,000 clicks. Key outcomes included 87 per cent recall among males, 100 per cent of young male drivers taking steps to avoid drink driving, and increased awareness of consequences such as licence loss (81 per cent) and serious injury (83 per cent).

The Betoota Advocate partnership extended reach into regional Queensland communities where drink driving remains a significant concern, and reinforced the campaign's message in a way that connected with local communities.

The campaign's success demonstrates the power of combining emotionally impactful content with strategic media placement. It also highlights the importance of authentic, platform-specific content, especially on TikTok and Snapchat, to engage younger audiences and drive meaningful behaviour change.

For more information: https://streetsmarts.initiatives.qld.gov.au/initiatives/drinking-never-drive/

Regulatory compliance and enforcement

Compliance and enforcement has a key role in delivering improved road safety outcomes across Queensland through an intelligence-led, risk-based, and adaptive compliance and enforcement service delivery model.

TMR is responsible for delivering compliance and enforcement activities relating to light vehicles, passenger transport, and accreditation scheme compliance, including:

• conducting local and state-wide light vehicle targeted operations and on-road intercepts
• accreditation scheme auditing under the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995, Tow Truck Act 2023, and the Transport Operations (Passenger Transport) Act 1994
• investigating customer complaints
• education on TMR's safe drivers, safe vehicles, and safe roads program.

Between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2025, TMR's Transport Inspectors:

• undertook 11,162 intercepts
• issued 2287 defect notices
• issued1645 infringement notices.

TMR's commitment to compliance and enforcement activities across the state, contributes to safer roads for Queenslanders.

For more information: https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/safety/road-safety/transport-inspectors

Approved Inspection Stations

The Approved Inspection Stations scheme is critical to Queensland's road safety framework by ensuring vehicles meet minimum safety standards before being registered and used on a Queensland road.

TMR has progressed essential and timely reforms to the Approved Inspection Station scheme, including the introduction of a temporary taskforce to address safety certificate non-compliance and the introduction of mandatory training for Approved Inspection Station scheme members in November 2024 to uplift capability of scheme members.

The taskforce has progressed a range of proactive initiatives with a strong emphasis on communication, education, and engagement with industry and community, and risk-based compliance action. An 83 per cent decrease in the issuing of non-compliant safety certificates by Approved Inspection Station has been seen since taskforce commencement and industry behaviour continues to trend positively. Mandatory training was successfully completed by all current scheme members, with over 85 per cent of members indicating the training provided a better understanding of their role and legislative responsibilities and how the scheme contributes to road safety.