Austroads has launched a comprehensive new framework to help Australian road agencies achieve their goal of zero road deaths and serious injuries by 2050.
The Planning for Zero approach provides practical, evidence-based guidance to align policy, planning, and investment decisions toward safer outcomes for all road users.
Developed in response to Charting a Path to Zero: Pathways and Comprehensive Support Materials (Austroads 2025), the guidance builds on the Safe System principles and applies a structured, measurable approach to road safety.
It focuses on integrating safer infrastructure design, effective speed management, community engagement, and workforce capability to achieve long-term change.
A practical roadmap for safer roads
“Road safety barriers, intersection upgrades and improved design standards are essential, but meaningful progress relies on a broader cultural and institutional shift,” says Michael Nieuwesteeg, Austroads’ Road Safety and Design Program Manager.
“This guidance offers road managers and road safety practitioners clear, practical steps to develop strategies tailored to their unique road safety challenges. It recognises that one size does not fit all and emphasises collaboration, stakeholder engagement and building the capacity needed for sustained improvement.”
The Planning for Zero framework builds on international best practice by embedding systems thinking and human-centred design into safety planning. According to the Austroads report, each jurisdiction can adapt the approach to its unique conditions, ensuring consistent safety principles while allowing for local flexibility.
Turning strategy into measurable outcomes
The guidance consists of three key components. The Strategic Leadership Briefing helps senior officials understand the policy, economic and community benefits of adopting the Planning for Zero approach. The technical framework outlines the steps and priority actions for developing evidence-based strategies, supported by a comprehensive toolkit containing templates, communication materials, and jurisdiction-specific examples.
Nieuwesteeg says embedding the framework into long-term transport planning will help align resources and accountability.
“By embedding these approaches into transport and government planning, agencies will be better equipped to align resources and deliver safety improvements across the road transport system, reducing trauma and saving lives,” he says.
Leadership and collaboration the keys to change
The Charting a Path to Zero report emphasises the importance of strong leadership, integrated governance, and cross-sector collaboration in achieving the 2050 target.
It calls for improved communication between jurisdictions and the consistent use of performance indicators to track progress.
Nieuwesteeg says that while engineering improvements remain central to road safety, leadership and cultural change are equally critical.
“Successful implementation relies on strong leadership and a coordinated effort across all levels of government and industry,” he says.
“This guidance provides the tools needed to build that capability and drive meaningful change.”