RoadWatch: Roundup
October 2025
Welcome to our monthly Austroads RoadWatch: Roundup for October. Discover our latest news, published reports, Guide updates, webinars and events.
Safety star ratings launched for Australian arterial roads
Austroads has released safety star ratings for Australia’s major arterial roads – the roads that carry the majority of traffic – in a landmark step towards making our roads safer. The new National AusRAP Dashboard gives a clear, interactive view of road safety to prioritise life‑saving upgrades.
These star ratings are part of the Australian Road Assessment Program (AusRAP), a nationally coordinated effort to identify which roads pose the highest risks of death and serious injury, and where road upgrades will have the greatest life-saving impact.
“By publishing star ratings and crash history data on a single, national dashboard, we’re giving governments and the community a clear line of sight to where upgrades will have the greatest impact,” said Geoff Allan, Austroads Chief Executive.
“Road safety star ratings are a robust and trusted tool for communicating road safety information to the public, and Austroads is proud to coordinate and publish our members’ results,” added Geoff.
Read more | View the National AusRAP Dashboard | More about AusRAP
Austroads releases practical approach to help eliminate road deaths and serious injuries by 2050
Austroads has developed a practical, evidence-based Planning for Zero approach to help road agencies create tailored strategies and plans to deliver on their ambitious goals of zero fatalities by 2050.
The approach integrates safer road designs, speed management, communication, engagement, and workforce training. By following this structured pathway, road agencies can make meaningful progress toward governments’ road safety targets and the goal of zero fatalities and serious injuries by 2050, enhancing safety and protecting all road users.
“Successful implementation relies on strong leadership and a coordinated effort across all levels of government and industry. This guidance provides the tools needed to build that capability and drive meaningful change,” said Michael Nieuwesteeg, Road Safety and Design Program Manager at Austroads.
New insights improve understanding of crash forces and injury risks for vehicle occupants
Austroads has released new findings that help clarify how the forces experienced in vehicle crashes relate to actual injuries sustained by occupants. This gives engineers and decision-makers better guidance when designing and assessing road safety barriers, especially on bridges.
The Austroads report brings together the latest crash test data and research to show how current safety standards match up with real-world injury outcomes. It also explains how different types of barriers, such as stiffer bridge parapets, affect the risk of injury in serious crashes.
A significant contribution of the report comes from a recent Austroads full-scale crash test, which assessed a bridge parapet barrier using MASH protocols. This test included two crash test dummies: a 5th percentile female (representing a smaller adult occupant) and a 1.5-year-old child in a rear restraint. The test vehicle impacted the barrier at 100 km/h at an angle of 25 degrees.
Watch a video summary of this world-first, full-scale crash test.
Testing involved crashing a 36-tonne truck, a sports utility vehicle, and a small passenger car into a medium performance level bridge barrier.
Austroads publishes major updates to Pavement Technology Guide
Austroads has released three major and one minor update to its Guide to Pavement technology (AGPT). These revisions reflect the latest research, industry feedback, and technological advancements in pavement materials and design.
"These revisions ensure that our guidance remains relevant, practical, and aligned with current best practices. We’ve placed a strong emphasis on durability and environmental performance. These changes will help road agencies and contractors make better-informed decisions that benefit both the network and the community,” said Ross Guppy, Austroads Transport Infrastructure Program Manager.
The latest updates include a major revision of AGPT Part 4J: Aggregate and Source Rock, Part 4B: Asphalt and Part 4L: Stabilised Binders.
Minor updates have also been made to AGPT Part 5: Pavement Evaluation and Treatment Design.
Update to the Austroads Guide to Pavement Technology Part 4B: Asphalt
- Thursday, 6 November 2025 | 1:00 pm AEDT
- Register here
Update to the Austroads Guide to Pavement Technology: Part 1, 3 and 4
- Tuesday, 11 November 2025 | 1:00 pm AEDT
- Register here
Update to Austroads Guide to Pavement Technology: Part 2
- Thursday, 20 November 2025 | 1:00 pm AEDT
- Register here
Austroads publishes new technical specifications for the construction of flexible pavements
Austroads has released six new technical specifications and one test method that cover the construction of granular and stabilised flexible pavements.
The technical content of the ATS has been developed from existing pavement construction specifications and reviewed by subject matter experts from road agencies, contractors and industry associations. They reflect contemporary best-practice pavement construction techniques and focus on quality management processes and conformity requirements.
These specifications aim to deliver efficiencies for the road construction industry, with the key benefit of contractors only needing to become familiar with one set of specifications, leading to savings in time and money.
Austroads at ARSC 2025 – Join us in Perth!
Austroads is proud to sponsor and exhibit at the 2025 Australasian Road Safety Conference, taking place in Perth from 20–23 October. Our Road Safety team will be presenting and hosting three key workshops.
These workshops are ideal for road safety professionals, policy makers, government staff, consultants, and researchers.
Strengthening road safety management for a Path to Zero
Come along to discover the Planning for Zero Framework, Austroads’ guide to designing more effective road safety strategies.
Transforming road safety strategies
Join a hands-on workshop where you'll use the Planning for Zero Framework to plan for Safe System outcomes. No experience needed. Just bring your curiosity and teamwork!
AusRAP 2025 results and next steps
Learn about the latest results from the Australian Road Assessment Program (AusRAP), explore crash history mapping, and help shape the future of AusRAP (2026–2030). This session includes input from the AusRAP Community of Practice.
Visit us at booths 3 and 4
While you're at ARSC 2025, come and chat with the Austroads team at booths 3 and 4. We’ll be showcasing a wide range of resources to support your work in road safety. Whether you have questions, ideas, or just want to learn more, we’d love to connect.
All upcoming Austroads webinars
There is no charge for our webinars, but registration is essential. If you can’t make the live session, register and we will send you a link to the recording.
Safer Journeys Through Shared Agency Data: A Vision for Harmonised Access Points in ANZ | Register
Thursday 16 October 2025, 1 pm AEDT
Join this webinar to learn about a concept for the standardised provision of road agency data to data consumers such as information service providers, navigation apps providers, and vehicle manufacturers, via jurisdiction-based, harmonised access points.
Bridge Assessment Guideline: Heavy Vehicles | Register
Thursday 23 October 2025, 1 pm AEDT
Register for this session to learn about Austroads’ Bridge Assessment Guideline for heavy vehicles, with a focus on its risk-informed decision-making framework for managing road bridge assessments and heavy vehicle access.
Managing the Unexpected: A Framework for TMC Response to ITS Outages | Register
Tuesday 28 October 2025, 1 pm AEDT
This webinar presents findings from an Austroads project focused on strengthening the resilience of Transport Management Centres (TMCs) in the face of ITS disruptions, offering insights into key themes from agency consultation and operational research.
CWANZ National Walking and Cycling Participation Survey 2025 | Register
Wednesday 29 October 2025, 1 pm AEDT
Join this webinar to hear about the findings of the National Walking and Cycling Participation Survey, Australia’s most comprehensive source of data on how people move through their communities.
Update to the Austroads Guide to Pavement Technology Part 4B: Asphalt | Register
Thursday 6 November 2025, 1 pm AEDT
This webinar will provide comprehensive guidance for the selection of constituent materials, mix design, testing, manufacture and placement of commonly used asphalt mix types in Australia and New Zealand.
Update to the Austroads Guide to Pavement Technology: Part 1, 3 and 4 | Register
Tuesday 11 November 2025, 1 pm AEDT
Receive guidance on different pavement types and the optimal conditions they are suited to in this engaging webinar, which provides in-depth analysis and technical advice on the construction, maintenance, and performance of road pavement surfaces.
An Evaluation of Methods for Estimating Remaining Asphalt Fatigue Life | Register
Tuesday 13 November 2025, 1 pm AEDT
Register for this session to discover methods for designing more efficient and cost-effective road rehabilitation treatments by estimating the remaining fatigue life of existing asphalt.
Update to Austroads Guide to Pavement Technology: Part 2 | Register
Thursday 20 November 2025, 1 pm AEDT
Join this webinar to learn more about the key changes made to Part 2 of Austroads Guide to Pavement Technology, the primary reference for designing new sealed road pavements which incorporates new research findings and provides a general update.
Research Climate Change and Natural Hazards Resilience Needs and Guidance Approaches | Register
Thursday 25 November 2025, 1 pm AEDT
Register for this session to explore how extreme weather affects transport infrastructure and road networks, and gain insight into Austroads' model and roadmap for closing gaps in achieving transport system resilience.
Work with us
Current vacancies
Austroads and Transport Certification Australia (TCA) employ staff across a range of specialised and technical disciplines. We pay attention to maintaining a safe and welcoming work environment, where all staff have equal access to opportunities. We encourage our staff to participate in external and internal training to make sure their skills and knowledge are continuously improved. We take inclusion and diversity seriously. We embrace difference and diversity of identity, experience and thought, and actively strive for inclusive behaviours across our company and our work.
We currently have positions open for:
- Project Coordinator (x2)
- Head of Program Management – Digital Trust Service
View current vacancies here.
Tenders
Are you looking for an opportunity to work on an Austroads project? The following project is open for tender:
- VTZ6620 Update to Austroads Guidelines for Low and Zero Emission Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Installation. Closing 2.30 pm AEDT, Wednesday 22 October 2025.
- AAM6650 Standardising the Use of Building Information Modelling. Closing 2.30 pm AEDT, Thursday 23 October 2025.
- SRL6643 Equitable Access to Registration and Licensing Services - Foundation Workstream. Closing 2.30 pm AEDT, Thursday 23 October 2025.
- NEF6630 Enhanced Management of Steep Descents on the Road Network. Closing 3 pm AEDT, Friday 24 October 2025.
Upcoming industry events
8th ASCP Concrete Pavements Conference, 19 – 22 October, Penrith
2025 Australasian Road Safety Conference, 20 – 23 October, Perth
TechDRIVE Roadshow, Melbourne, 22 October, Melbourne
20th AfPA International Conference, 28 – 30 October, Adelaide
BIC National Conference 2025, 29 – 31 October, Perth
