RACT Youth Road Safety Program

Creating a safer future for young Tasmanians.

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The Youth Road Safety Program is a transformative initiative designed to reduce young driver fatalities and injuries on Tasmanian roads. With an $8 million grant secured during the 2024 state election, this program is built on a foundation of research, co-design, and lived experience, aiming to foster safer driving habits for the next generation.

Every year, around 300 Tasmanians are killed or seriously injured on our roads, with young drivers – particularly in regional and disadvantaged areas – being overrepresented in these statistics. Since road safety education in schools isn’t mandatory and varies widely, this program will bring consistency and structure to young driver education across the state.

How we're approaching it

We're in the early stages, but we're focused on building something that lasts. Over the next five years, we'll work through research, stakeholders' engagement, trials and eventually statewide delivery. The program will focus on three areas:

  • Education

    Embedding road safety learning in Years 9 to 12 to equip young drivers with the knowledge they need.

  • Driver Supervisors

    Supporting parents, mentors, and instructors with better tools and guidance to help young drivers navigate the road safely.

  • Community

    Tailoring solutions that reflect the unique needs of different regions and support young people experiencing disadvantages.

What we're doing now

Road safety is a comples issue. We've partnered with researchers from Queensland University of Technology (QUT) at the Centre for Accident Research & Road Safety, who are leaders in youth road safety, to investigate this issue.

We wanted to understand what works when it comes to helping young people stay safe on the road. To do this, we looked at research on youth development, road safety, risk-taking, the role of parents and peers, modern teaching methods, and successful programs from around the world.

From the start we want this project to include the voices most affected by trauma. We're involving our community from the first conversations, through to designing a project that lasts.

Rather than consulting, telling and broadcasting, we want this project to be co-designed by those people most affected by road safety and road training, that is young people and their parents. This means that we will act as a facilitator that aims to empower members of the community so that solutions, ownership and progress come from the community itself.

Our Impact So Far

It might still be early days, but we've been hard at work. So far we have:

  1. Secured $8 million from the Tasmanian Government to run this project.

  2. Put together an expert team to run and contribute to the project.

  3. Made youth road safety central to RACT's 2025 State election platform.

  4. Asked learner driver supervisors across the state about their experience of teaching young people to drive.

Meet the Steering Committee

The Steering Committee for the Youth Road Safety Program is made up of a diverse group of leaders in road safety, education, and community development. Their collective expertise will guide the creation and implementation of this vital program, ensuring it meets the needs of young Tasmanians and delivers long-term impact.

See the team

What's next?

The program is in the early stages, and we are actively engaging with experts, young people, parents, and communities to ensure its success. Trials will begin later this year, setting the stage for a statewide delivery over the next five years.

Partners & Supporters

This project is proudly supported by the Tasmanian Government.

Project Partners include:

  • Tasmania's Road Safety Advisory Council (RSAC)

  • Department for Education, Children and Young People

  • Department of State Growth

  • Catholic Education

Contact us

If you're interested in learning more about the Youth Road Safety Program, please feel free to reach out to us on [email protected].