Reason for state’s worst road toll in 15 years
The NSW road toll is on track to be the worst in more than 15 years, with 134 lives lost already this year—22 more than last year. See who police say is to blame.
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The NSW road toll is on track to be the worst in more than 15 years, with the state government blaming driver behaviour for the dramatic jump in fatal crashes in recent years.
A total of 134 people have died so far in 2025 across NSW – 22 more than at the same time last year.
On its current pace, the road toll could close in on 400 deaths by year’s end.
That would make it the worst since 2009 – and a significant jump on the 340 people who died on NSW roads in each of the last two years, and the 280 who lost their lives in 2022.
Things have become so bad that ambitions to reduce fatalities by 50 per cent and serious injuries by 30 per cent, by 2030, have had to be abandoned.
“We are now so far away from (those targets) we have now got to redouble our efforts,” Safer Australian Roads and Highways president Peter Frazer said.
“Certainly since Covid we have seen a whole lot of errant behaviour, a whole lot of speeding, and not particularly caring about others on the road.”
Outgoing NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb yesterday made her first public appearance since announcing her retirement last week, at a celebration of 100 years of NSW Police’s commitment to ensuring road safety.
A former commander of the Traffic and Highway Patrol herself, Ms Webb said it was “unfortunate” the road toll was so high but she praised police for trying to protect drivers on the roads.
“Our officers are dedicated to road safety... and I’d like to give a shout-out to the many officers who keep our roads safe 24/7,” she said.
Police Minister Yasmin Catley also defended the efforts of cops to bring down the road toll, rejecting as “not true” claims that police were not as visible on roads and highways as they once were.
Ms Catley said the attitudes and behaviour of drivers was what needed fixing.
“People’s behaviour has to change,” she said. “Speeding (is the) No.1 factor (in the road toll) … People need to slow down and follow the road rules.
“Do not drive with alcohol in you – it is unsafe.
“People have to take responsibility for their actions.
“Police are doing everything they can.”
NRMA spokesman Peter Khoury called the rising road toll “very concerning” and said police were vital to combating the problem.
“If we’re going to see a change at all, it’s going to be through the police,” Mr Khoury said. “Cameras can only do so much, but if it is, as they (the government) have said, about driver behaviour, then the tip of the spear absolutely has to be police interactions … The road toll is hugely concerning.”
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Originally published as Reason for state’s worst road toll in 15 years
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