Making road safety ratings public can save lives.
AANT has welcomed the Northern Territory Government’s release of the Australian Road Assessment Program (AusRAP) safety ratings, helping to save lives through greater transparency and accountability in road funding decisions.
The release follows years of advocacy by the Australian Automobile Association (AAA) and affiliated motoring clubs, including AANT, calling for governments to publish AusRAP safety data to improve understanding of the risks across Australia’s road network.
AusRAP rates roads on a five-star scale, where one star represents the least safe roads and five stars the safest. Each additional star rating halves the risk of death or serious injury compared to the previous level.
Globally, governments aspire to ensure all major roads achieve at least a three-star AusRAP rating — the threshold associated with strong road safety outcomes — while new roads should be designed to four or five stars wherever feasible.
How AusRAP Works
AusRAP assessments are calculated using a range of measurable road and traffic factors that influence crash risk and severity. These include:
- average daily traffic volumes
- speed limits
- number of lanes in each direction
- lane and shoulder widths
- roadside hazards such as trees or poles
- presence (or absence) of barriers and audio tactile line markings
- gradient and curvature
- quality of line marking and skid resistance
- whether roads are single or dual carriageway
- and provisions for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists
This data is combined with crash information to show how road design contributes to crash frequency and outcomes, enabling authorities to pinpoint the areas that need urgent upgrades.
Governments and road agencies can then use this evidence to prioritise investment in projects that will deliver the greatest reduction in deaths and serious injuries.
A Victory for Transparency and Accountability
The release of AusRAP ratings represents a major milestone in data transparency and government accountability. For the first time, Territorians can see how their roads perform from a safety perspective and compare these results with government funding decisions.
“AANT thanks the Northern Territory Government for releasing this life-saving data and for listening to the views of Australian motorists and safety campaigners,” said AANT Chief Executive Officer, Simon Matthias.
Towards Safer Roads for All Territorians
The release of this data is an important first step in addressing road fatalities and serious injuries in the Territory. While not every road can achieve a five-star rating, transparency about current conditions helps governments identify where upgrades will have the most impact. AANT supports upgrading all major NT roads to at least a three-star AusRAP rating, with new roads designed and built to a minimum of four stars.
“By lifting the safety standards of our roads, we can reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries,” Simon Matthias said. “Safer roads, combined with safer vehicles and safer behaviours, are key to achieving our shared vision of zero deaths and serious injuries on Territory roads.”
Explore the Data
The NT AusRAP ratings can be viewed on the Austroads interactive map, allowing motorists, policymakers, and communities to explore the safety of local and regional roads.
AANT encourages all Territorians to explore the ratings and join the call for continued investment in safer road infrastructure because every additional star means more lives saved.