The New South Wales government has pleaded with heavy vehicle drivers and motorists to slow down as 355 lives were lost on the state’s roads last year.
The state government used the confirmation of the road toll for 2025, which is 28 more deaths than recorded in 2024, to call on the state’s 6.4 million drivers and riders to make safer choices on the road in 2026.
While the NSW government says it’s “investing heavily” in major road safety reforms while repairing and maintaining road infrastructure, it has deemed the number of deaths “unacceptably high”.
“NSW has ended 2025 with 355 people losing their lives on our roads. That number should stop every one of us in our tracks,” NSW roads minister Jenny Aitchison says.
“This is when many families are together – but for the families and friends of those we lost last year, there is no fresh start. There is an empty seat at the table, and a loved one who isn’t coming home.
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“We are investing more than $2.8 billion in road safety: safer roads, stronger enforcement, new technology and major reforms, and we are developing our next Road Safety Action Plan with nothing off the table.
“But even with all of that, government cannot be in the driver’s seat for you. These tragedies continue because of the choices people make: speeding, driving tired, driving distracted, or driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.”
The government says speed remains the biggest killer on NSW roads, with speed being a contributing factor in 134 of the road deaths recorded in the state last year, representing almost four in every 10 deaths.
In 2025, 241 people died on rural and regional roads, which is the highest tally since 2017 and equal to 2023.
Increased trauma among vulnerable road users and older people was also recorded, with Aitchison calling on all to watch for speed and other major factors in 2026.
“With speeding involved in almost four in every ten deaths, I’m asking people to take their foot off the accelerator. It doesn’t have to be extreme speeding to be deadly, even a few kilometres over the limit can be the difference between a near-miss and a funeral,” she says.
“Slow down. Plan ahead so you’re not driving tired. Never drive after drinking or taking drugs. And look out for pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists – they have the same right to get home safely as you do.”