Australian motoring groups are intensifying calls for safer driving as new data reveal a spike in road fatalities, mobility-related claims, and dangerous road corridors – particularly in Queensland and South Australia.
Across Queensland, speed-related road deaths jumped by nearly one-third in 2023, with 89 fatalities attributed to excessive speed. This marks a 31.7% increase compared to the five-year average between 2018 and 2022, according to Transport and Main Roads Queensland. Hospitalisations linked to speeding also rose 5% over the same comparison period.
Industry groups are using the recent school holiday period as a focal point to promote safer behaviour, particularly in light of rising exposure on urban roads and in high-traffic regional areas.
In addition to fatal crashes involving speed, incidents involving bicycles and scooters are becoming more frequent.
RACQ Insurance reported 186 claims involving these modes of transport between March 2024 and February 2025, up from 153 the previous year. These collisions were most common in Queensland’s tourist regions, including the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, and Townsville.
The afternoon window between 3pm and 5pm emerged as the highest-risk period, coinciding with school finishes and peak commuting hours. Contributing factors cited include declining daylight, reduced alertness, and denser road use.
RACQ general manager of advocacy Joshua Cooney noted that claims data show shared accountability among motorists and riders.
“We’re seeing a fairly even split between motorists and riders being at fault, highlighting the need for all road users to prioritise safety and be mindful of each other,” he said.
Surveys conducted by RACQ indicated that while most Queensland drivers frequently encounter cyclists, only 10% claim to fully understand road-sharing requirements. Notably, one in four respondents admitted to having minimal or no knowledge of safe passing laws.
According to RACQ’s Young Drivers Survey, open licence holders commonly viewed minor speeding as acceptable. A significant number of young men surveyed said exceeding the limit by over 11 km/h posed no safety concerns.
Joel Tucker, RACQ’s road safety and technical manager, said these perceptions are concerning given the link between speeding and severe crashes.
“This issue is that speeding is culturally ingrained in driver behaviour. Exceeding the speed limit is seen as a norm, not an exception, and this must change,” he said.
RACQ has proposed several policy changes aimed at reducing speed-related risks. These include increasing the deployment of automated enforcement technology, expanding police presence on high-risk corridors, and enhancing vehicle seizure laws targeting repeat offenders.
The suggested framework allows for escalating penalties, ranging from short-term impoundments to permanent vehicle confiscation.
“Separating extreme drivers temporarily or permanently from their cars will send a strong message to those who continually choose to break the law. Queenslanders don’t want to share the roads with people who don’t obey the road rules,” Tucker said.
Meanwhile, South Australia’s riskiest roads have been named following the latest Risky Roads survey conducted by the RAA.
Curtis Road, connecting Munno Para and Angle Vale in Adelaide’s north, was flagged as the most hazardous route based on more than 1,800 community nominations. The intersection at Curtis and Heaslip Roads also repeated as the state’s most dangerous junction.
Crash records indicated 143 casualty incidents occurred along Curtis Road between 2019 and 2023. Vehicle numbers have surged by 21% since 2017, with some sections now accommodating more than 24,000 vehicles daily.
Regional roads in the Fleurieu Peninsula also made the list, including Victor Harbor Road, Main South Road, and Goolwa Road, with concerns focused on poor surface conditions and design limitations.
RAA senior traffic engineer Matt Vertudaches road maintenance concerns were common across metro and regional submissions, and these issues directly influence crash outcomes.
“We continue to call for more investment to address our road maintenance backlog to improve safety, before the problem gets even worse,” he said.
