In August, the Government of Australia’s largest state, New South Wales (NSW), ended years of secrecy by publishing road safety ratings for 35,000km of its roads. The ratings use AusRAP, a five-star system based on FIA Member the International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP)’s methodology, and several other jurisdictions are expected to release their data in the coming weeks.

The moves follow years of campaigning for data transparency by the AAA and Australian Motoring Clubs, including the successful 2023 ‘Data Saves Lives’ campaign. This campaignwon strong public support by calling on governments to release more data about crash causes, policing and road conditions in order to highlight both the causes of increased road trauma and demonstrate whether politicians invest in roads to improve road safety or to attract votes in marginal electorates.

As a result of this sustained advocacy, last year the Australian Government required all States and Territories to publish more data as a condition of a new intergovernmental road funding agreement.

With data about crash causes and policing already being released, the publication of ratings under iRAP’s five-star system will give Australians their first opportunity to see how the roads they use every day are rated and what those ratings mean.

The NSW iRAP analysis shows most roads are rated three stars, with about a quarter rated one or two stars. It will underpin smarter and fairer infrastructure planning across the jurisdiction, aiming to ensure roads are safe for all users.

AAA Managing Director Michael Bradley said, "This national leadership is to be congratulated, and it will save lives by improving transparency, accountability, and by ensuring road investment dollars get spent where they are most needed."