Senior Tasmania Police officer warns state is on track to record ‘horrendous’ road toll in 2025

As National Road Safety Week kicked off on Monday, a senior Tasmania Police officer warned that the state was facing a horror road toll in 2025, pleading with motorists to heed his advice.

Tasmania Police Assistant Commissioner Adrian Bodnar. Picture: Genevieve Holding

A senior member of Tasmania Police says the force is bracing for a “horrendous” year on the state’s roads, with 21 lives lost already and 11 deaths recorded in April alone.

Speaking at an event to mark the start of National Road Safety Week, Assistant Commissioner Adrian Bodnar said over the last decade, an average of 35 people have died in fatal crashes every year in Tasmania.

“When I look at that data, and I compare where we currently are to date, I can say, unfortunately, we are in for a horrendous year on [the] current trajectory,” he said.

Tasmania’s road toll has already reached an alarming 21 deaths so far this year.

Assistant Commissioner Bodnar said April had been the deadliest month on the roads since July 2009, a year when 63 people were killed in crashes.

“We don’t want to see months like that again,” he said.

“I really am pleading with motorists in the community to make good choices when it comes to driving and slow down, please be situationally aware, don’t drink and drive, and take responsibility for your own driving behaviours.”

In addition to the 21 road crash deaths in Tasmania so far this year, there have been 106 serious injuries.

RACT is delivering the Youth Road Safety Program with the assistance of $8m in state government funding, helping to educate students in years 9-12 on safe driving behaviours.

RACT's Mark Mugnaioni with Tara Lette (seated) and Ashtyn Thorn on the Steering the Future simulator for National Road Safety Week 2025. Picture: Supplied

RACT Group CEO Mark Mugnaioni said young people were overrepresented in road trauma statistics.

He described National Road Safety Week as a “powerful call to action”.

“This week highlights the profound impact of road trauma on individuals, families and communities – and reinforces that we all have a part to play in preventing it,” Mr Mugnaioni said.

“Whether you’re a driver, passenger, cyclist or pedestrian, we all must take responsibility for our choices on the road.”

Transport Minister Eric Abetz said the 2025 road toll was “nothing short of a preventable tragedy”.

Minister for Transport Eric Abetz.

“There is always more we can do as a government, but we cannot do everything which is exactly why road safety is everyone’s responsibility,” he said.

The minister said the RACT’s youth driver education program was “nation-leading”.

Tasmanian Transport Association executive director Michelle Harwood said the organisation had recently toured Agfest and five schools with the Steering the Future truck, which allows young people to practice driving on a simulator.

“We’ve talked with [kids] about how to share the road safely with heavy vehicles, including understanding and staying out of the blind spots,” she said.

Originally published as Senior Tasmania Police officer warns state is on track to record ‘horrendous’ road toll in 2025