Tasmanians are being urged to make road safety their New Year’s resolution following a devastating year that saw 44 lives lost on the state’s roads.
The sobering statistic represents a significant increase from 2024, when 31 people died in road accidents across the state, though serious injuries decreased from 307 to 278.
Transport Minister Kerry Vincent has called for 2026 to mark a critical turning point in road safety.
“I wish all Tasmanians a Happy New Year and I’d also like to stress 2026 must be a turning point after a tragic year on our roads last year,” Vincent said.
The minister said road safety is a shared responsibility, affecting virtually every Tasmanian.
“Almost every Tasmanian is a road user, whether a driver, rider, passenger or pedestrian, which means every one of us has a role to play in making our roads safer,” he said.
Vincent pointed to the “Fatal Five” behaviours as continuing contributors to serious crashes: speeding, failure to wear seatbelts properly, driving under the influence, driver fatigue and inattention.
“The reality is that it could easily be any one of us affected by someone else’s split-second choice or it could be us making a split-second choice impacting others,” Vincent said.
More than $125 million has been invested into Tasmanian road safety initiatives over the past five years, including a $50 million Safer Roads Program, but Vincent said individual choices remain crucial.
“Everyone has the power to make a safer choice in 2026.”
“It might be putting your phone away, slowing down when conditions change, taking a break when tired, not continually driving just a few kilometres over the speed limit, or making a plan not to drive after drinking.”
