Wednesday, February 25, 2026

Not a Good Start on Canberra’s Roads This Year — What Needs to Change?

 

Not a Good Start on Canberra’s Roads This Year — What Needs to Change?



Canberra has not had the start to the year on our roads that any of us would hope for.

With the ACT already at 6 road deaths in the first two months of the year, the statistics aren’t just numbers — they’re parents, friends, siblings, and members of our community (ACT Policing 30-day definition).

These early figures are a stark reminder that the current approach to road safety in the Territory needs a serious rethink — and fast.

Public debate often defaults to familiar responses, such as reducing speed limits, adding more cameras, or increasing fines. But these reactive measures — while part of the toolkit — are insufficient on their own.

Road trauma is not caused solely by speed signs.

If we are serious about saving lives — not just reacting to statistics — we must shift our focus to what truly changes behaviour: education.

National and ACT Road Safety Context

Australia’s total road deaths have been rising after a historic low in 2020. National figures show:

  • 2021: 1,123 deaths across Australia

  • 2022: 1,194 deaths

  • 2023: 1,266 deaths

  • 2024: ~1,300 deaths

  • 2025: ~1,314 deaths (provisional)

These trends underscore a national road-safety challenge, despite longstanding strategies aimed at halving deaths by 2030.

Meanwhile, the ACT — despite having one of the lowest road death rates per capita among jurisdictions — has seen its road death rate increase over time (from 1.2 per 100,000 in 2020 to 2.2 per 100,000 by mid-2023).

And with six deaths already this year in a small population jurisdiction, every loss is significant.

The Limits of “Just Change the Speed Signs”

Reducing speed limits is politically visible and easy to implement. It signals action. But on its own, it does not address:

  • Why drivers misjudge gaps at intersections

  • Why do some learners lack confidence merging

  • Why parents are unsure how to supervise practice hours effectively

  • Why drivers continue to use phones despite knowing the risks

  • Why hazard perception skills remain underdeveloped

A driver travelling 10 km/h slower but still distracted is not a safe driver.
Lowering speed limits doesn’t create competent decision-makers — education does.

Education Is the Key

Real change comes from:

  • Teaching drivers why crashes happen, not just what the speed limit is

  • Building hazard perception and defensive driving skills

  • Supporting parents and supervisors with structured coaching methods

  • Embedding risk awareness before and after licensing

Research consistently shows structured training improves hazard perception, gap selection, and situational awareness — all of which directly reduce crash risk.

Education changes behaviour. Enforcement only deters some behaviours in the moment.

Canberra’s Unique Road Environment

The ACT isn’t just any urban area. It has:

  • High-speed arterial roads

  • Multi-lane roundabouts

  • Complex merge points

  • Rapidly changing traffic infrastructure

  • A mix of commuters, learners, and interstate visitors

Drivers must be equipped — not just compliant.

Education must reflect real Canberra driving conditions, including:

  • Safe lane changes at 100 km/h

  • Roundabout scanning techniques

  • Defensive positioning

  • Risk anticipation at signalised intersections

  • Managing distraction in modern vehicles

What Needs to Change — Fast

1. Shift the Focus From Punishment to Prevention

Enforcement deters some behaviour. Education changes behaviour long-term.

We should be asking:

  • Are learners receiving quality instruction?

  • Are supervisors confident?

  • Are we teaching hazard prediction — not just vehicle control?

2. Raise the Standard of Driver Training

Driving is one of the most dangerous activities most Australians undertake daily — yet many learners receive minimal structured coaching beyond the basic test requirements.

3. Support Parents and Supervisors

Parents log hundreds of hours but often lack:

  • Coaching techniques

  • Structured lesson progression

  • Understanding of modern test standards

Empowered supervisors create safer drivers.

4. Invest in Early Risk Education

Young drivers are statistically at a higher risk not simply because of speed, but because of:

  • Impulse control development

  • Peer influence

  • Limited hazard experience

Structured defensive training mitigates that risk.

The Bigger Question

Every time the road toll rises, we debate enforcement.

But what if we debated capability?

What if we measured:

  • Hazard perception proficiency

  • Defensive positioning awareness

  • Situational judgement skills

Instead of asking, “Should this road be 60 or 50?” we might ask:

Are the drivers using it truly equipped to navigate it safely?

A Community Responsibility

Road safety is not just a government issue.

It involves:

  • Instructors

  • Schools

  • Parents

  • Employers

  • Community organisations

Every learner we properly educate is a potential life saved — theirs, or someone else’s.

With the ACT already at six deaths in the first two months of the year, we cannot wait for another statistic to signal change.

Education isn’t an optional add-on — it’s the key to safer roads.

Sources & References

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