New national road safety campaign ‘Don’t Let a Car Change Who You Are’ launches via BMF

A new national road safety campaign, ‘Don’t Let a Car Change Who You Are’, funded by the Federal Government and created by BMF, has launched across Australia.

Focusing on driver behaviour, the campaign’s message, “Safer driving starts with you,” aims to encourage Australians to reflect on their behaviour behind the wheel and emphasise the importance of safe driving.

The campaign highlights how seemingly minor behaviours such as tailgating, speeding, and mobile phone use while driving significantly contribute to motor vehicle accidents and road fatalities.

Road safety is a collective effort, and this campaign supports the broader goals of state, territory, and local governments to reduce road trauma. It aligns with the Government’s vision to achieve zero road deaths and serious injuries by 2050, calling on all drivers to play their part in making Australia’s roads safer.

Since 2022, the Government has prioritised road safety by increasing funding for local road projects and addressing long-standing calls for better safety data. Key initiatives include:

• Doubling funding for Roads to Recovery: Now $1 billion annually, supporting over 2,000 projects. Of these, 1,390 will commence by December, with over 690 completed by year-end.

• Expanding the Black Spot Program: Annual funding increased to $150 million, with revised eligibility criteria.

• The $2.9 billion Road Safety Program: Delivering over 1,800 projects, improving safety across 1,910 kilometres of road.

• Reversing the 2014 freeze on road maintenance funding: Permanently indexing national highway maintenance funds and back-paying the shortfall.

The government has also enhanced its agreements with states and territories to collect more comprehensive road safety data, enabling better responses to road trauma and addressing the recent rise in road fatalities.

The Government is urging Australians to reflect on their driving behaviour, especially during the holiday season, to ensure that everyone can safely enjoy time with loved ones.

The campaign reinforces that road safety is everyone’s responsibility, from individual drivers to governments and industry experts. By focusing on safer driving practices and investing in road infrastructure, the campaign seeks to reduce road trauma and save lives.

Play the 30 sec radio spot:

Play the ‘Power Tools’ radio spot:

Play the ‘Speed Walker’ radio spot:

Play the ‘Toddler’ radio spot:

Says Tom Hoskins, Group CD at BMF: “Everyone has a role to play in making our roads safer. ‘Don’t Let A Car Change Who You Are’, is designed to inspire an attitudinal shift in drivers by asking, if you wouldn’t do it anywhere else, why do it in a car?”

Says Catherine King, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government: “We want families and friends gathered around dinner tables or picnics these holidays, not worried about loved ones on the road. That’s why the Albanese Government has increased investment in fixing roads because each dollar spent on a road is a dollar spent on road safety. We can each invest in our own safety by driving carefully, making the difference between getting to where we want to go safely or not getting there at all.”

Says Anthony Chisholm, Assistant Minister for Regional Development: “Any death on our roads is one too many, but unfortunately, we’ve seen an increase in deaths on our roads over the last 12 months. Our road safety campaign and the Albanese Government’s record investments show we’re committed to improving safety on our roads, but solving this challenge is a collective responsibility where we all play an important role. We’re all committed to reducing road trauma by investing in safer infrastructure and prioritising the collaboration between governments, industry, and experts, as we work towards keeping Australians safe on our roads.”

For more information on the campaign and to access the research behind it, visit saferdrivingstartswithyou.gov.au.