RoadWatch: Roundup

May 2026

Welcome to our monthly Austroads RoadWatch: Roundup for May. Discover our latest news, published reports, Guide updates, webinars and events.

Marking National Road Safety Week, Austroads highlights practical resources to improve safety for all road users

As National Road Safety Week is marked across Australia and New Zealand, Austroads acknowledges the collective efforts to improve safety outcomes for all road users and invites practitioners to explore Austroads’ road safety guidance, research and tools.

Road safety is a critical focus area for Austroads, with a coordinated program of research and guidance aimed at reducing deaths and serious injuries across the network. Recent work includes practical guidance on safer speeds, pedestrian safety, and treatments to reduce high‑risk crashes such as head‑on collisions on rural roads. These projects are grounded in Safe System principles and provide clear, evidence‑based measures that can be applied across jurisdictions to improve outcomes for vulnerable road users and the wider community.

Austroads also supports practitioners through nationally consistent frameworks, training, and tools that enable safer design, operation, and management of roads. This includes updates to key guides, development of safety strategies aligned to Vision Zero, initiatives such as AusRAP and road safety audit harmonisation, and much more.

Together, these resources provide practical support for decision‑makers and practitioners, helping translate research into real‑world improvements in road safety.

Explore here

Austroads moves to operationalise National Registration Framework for Road Safety Auditors

The National Harmonisation of Road Safety Audit Practices Project has reached a major milestone, with Austroads operationalising the National Registration Framework for Road Safety Auditors (NRFRSA).

Currently, auditors are managed by individual jurisdictions, resulting in variability in training, accreditation, and obligations. The framework establishes a national system for registering trainee, road safety, and senior auditors, with standardised requirements for registration, renewal, and oversight, supported by approved training providers.

Austroads members are committed to improving the consistency and quality of road safety audit practices and have agreed to implement a national registration system for road safety auditors and a national approval process for road safety audit training providers. The NRFRSA provides a nationally harmonised environment for individuals to register and practice road safety auditing.

This work is underpinned by a suite of supporting documents developed through broad collaboration across Austroads members, industry experts, and stakeholders. This includes a Benefit-Cost Analysis, a National Training Syllabus, and a supporting Technical Note to guide organisations seeking approval as training providers.

Read more

National design principles establish a common foundation for future mobility infrastructure

Road agencies across Australia and New Zealand now have a nationally coordinated set of design principles to inform how roads and infrastructure can adapt to emerging mobility technologies.

Road infrastructure is increasingly required to support both human drivers and vehicle systems as automated vehicles, connected and automated vehicles, electric vehicles and advanced driver assistance systems continue to develop. These technologies place new demands on physical and digital infrastructure, particularly in supporting safe and reliable conditions where vehicles with different levels of technology share the road.

The design principles have been developed by Austroads to provide a consistent reference point for road agencies as they navigate this transition. The guidance recognises that infrastructure adaptation is influenced by a range of factors, including policy and regulatory settings, technology maturity, community expectations and the practical realities of operating road networks at different stages of readiness. 

Read more | Download Design Principles for Adapting Roads and Infrastructure for Emerging Mobility Technologies

New report explores accessibility in EV charging

Austroads has released new research examining how electric vehicle charging infrastructure can be made more accessible for people with disability. This report comes as EV uptake in Australia and New Zealand continues to grow.

The report highlights that while EV charging networks are expanding rapidly, accessibility is not always consistently considered, particularly where infrastructure is retrofitted into existing road and parking environments. It brings together international best practice and local research, drawing on input from people with disabilities, industry and government stakeholders.

“This report brings together lived experience, industry input and international research to better understand the barriers some users may face when charging an electric vehicle,” said Joanne Vanselow, Vehicle and Technology Program Manager at Austroads. 

Read more | Download Enabling Accessible Electric Vehicle Charging

Austroads publishes six new technical specifications for road signs and lighting infrastructure

Austroads has released six new technical specifications for the design, supply, installation and commissioning of road signs and lighting infrastructure on road networks and associated public places. The specifications outline requirements for materials, manufacture, structural design, quality and installation to help practitioners deliver safer, more durable, and efficient projects.

Download the Austroads Road Signs Specifications below:

ATS-4310 Supply of Road Signs – Requirements for the supply and delivery of Sign Faces for use in permanent works and temporary traffic management.

ATS-4320 Installation of Road Signs – Requirements for the installation of signs on the road networks, including the removal, modification and relocation of existing signs.

Download the Austroads Lighting Specifications below:

ATS-4505 Design of Lighting Poles – Requirements for the design of steel Lighting Poles, including serviceability, durability, certification and testing of energy absorbing poles.

ATS-4510 Supply of Lighting Poles – Requirements for the supply of steel Lighting Poles, including quality system requirements, materials and identification marking.

ATS-4520 Supply of Luminaires – Requirements for the supply of Luminaires for use in Category V lighting schemes in accordance with AS/NZS 1158.1.1.

ATS-4530 Installation of Lighting Infrastructure – Requirements for the installation and commissioning of Lighting Infrastructure for roads and associated public places.

Read more

Austroads publishes two technical specifications and test method for guide posts

Austroads has published two new technical specifications and associated test method for guide posts, providing consistent guidance for the supply, installation and testing of steel, plastic and timber guide posts, including delineators. The publications support durability, performance and safety outcomes for roadside infrastructure.

Download the Austroads Guide Post Specifications and Test Method below:

ATS-4410 Supply and Installation of Steel or Plastic Guide Posts – Requirements for the supply and installation of guide posts that are manufactured from steel or plastic, including delineators.

ATS-4420 Supply and Installation of Timber Guide Posts – Requirements for the supply and installation of timber guide posts, including delineators.

ATM-830 Testing of Guide Posts – Procedures for the determination of the properties and characteristics of guide posts, including rigidity, heat resistance, cold resistance and impact recovery.

Read more

Assessing Fitness to Drive Education Module for General Practitioners – Enrol free until 31 May

General practitioners are reminded to register for Austroads’ online education module supporting the complex and challenging task of assessing fitness to drive. The accredited module provides practical, clinically focused guidance based on the Assessing Fitness to Drive (2022) Standards, supported by case examples, reflective activities and communication strategies.

The self‑paced module takes approximately 1.5 hours to complete and is accredited by The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM), providing two CPD hours. There is no prerequisite learning.

The course normally costs $150 (including GST), but Austroads is fully covering the cost until 31 May 2026. GPs are encouraged to enrol before the cut‑off to access the training at no charge. 

Learn more and enrol

Austroads named finalist in AFR Best Places to Work Awards 2026

Austroads has been recognised as a finalist in the 2026 Australian Financial Review (AFR) BOSS Best Places to Work Awards, in the Government, Education and Not-for-Profit category.

The AFR Best Places to Work Awards recognise organisations across Australia and New Zealand that demonstrate leading practices in employee engagement, workplace culture and organisational performance. The awards are based on a rigorous assessment process, including employee surveys and independent evaluation of workplace policies and practices.

“Being named a finalist in the AFR Best Places to Work Awards is a testament to the strong culture we’ve built at Austroads. We are proud to provide meaningful work, opportunities for development, and an environment where people can apply their skills. Staff have a connection to our organisation and their colleagues. We have good people who work here that are committed to doing their bit to make the world a better place and our little piece of the world a great place. Ultimately, it’s our people who make Austroads a great place to work, and this recognition reflects their talent, commitment and collaboration,” said Dr Geoff Allan, Chief Executive of Austroads.

Read more 

Keeping People Safe When Walking Stream 2 – Strengthening Key Practitioner Guidance and Methodologies | Register
Thursday 21 May 2026, 3 pm AEST

Register for this webinar to explore key opportunities to improve pedestrian safety guidance. The presenters will discuss ways to strengthen a systems-based approach to pedestrian safety planning, intervention selection, and evaluation.

Human Factors Integration in Road Transport: A New Guideline for Transport System Design and Operation | Register
Monday 25 May 2026, 1 pm AEST

Register for this webinar to learn about the new Austroads Guideline for Human Factors Integration in Road Transport, including an overview of the guideline and a case study demonstrating its application to driver distraction.

Design Principles for Adapting Roads and Infrastructure for Emerging Mobility Technologies | Register
Tuesday 9 June 2026, 1 pm AEST

Join this webinar to discover how automated, connected and electric vehicle technologies continue to develop and how road agencies across Australia and New Zealand can prepare infrastructure for new operating conditions.

Enabling Accessible EV Charging Guidelines | Register
Tuesday 23 June 2026, 1 pm AEST

This webinar will highlight key themes from the Enabling Accessible EV Charging Guidelines, which provide guidance on improving the usability of EV charging infrastructure for people with disability.

Investigating New Performance Testing of Unbound Granular Materials | Register
Thursday 25 June 2026, 1 pm AEST

Join this webinar to learn about research into unbound granular materials, including a review of performance characterisation methods and recommended new performance tests to support future Austroads pavement design and specifications.

Use Cases for Fibre Optic Sensing Technology in Roads and Transport | Register
Thursday 30 June 2026, 1 pm AEST

Register for this webinar which examines how fibre optic sensing technologies can be applied to support improved road agency services and functions.

National Harmonisation of Road Safety Auditors Practices | Register
Thursday 2 July 2026, 1 pm AEST

This webinar will provide an update on the national harmonisation project, including what has been agreed to regarding harmonisation and the deliverables and timelines for the operationalisation of the national framework.

View recent webinar recordings

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:

• Senior Project Manager
• Legal Counsel
• Paralegal 

View current vacancies here.

Tenders

Are you looking for an opportunity to work on an Austroads project? The following projects are open for tender:

• SRL6646 Options for managing complex fitness to drive medical assessments. Closing Monday 25 May 2026, 3 pm AEST.
• ABT6649 Viability of Standardising Bridge Component Designs. Closing Friday 29 May 2026, 3 pm AEST.

Find out more

Upcoming industry events

Mobility 2026, 27 - 28 May, Brisbane

ISC Connect, 1 – 3 June, Brisbane

Trucking Australia 2026, 3 - 5 June, Hamilton Island

Transport Conference 2026, 9 – 10 June, Cairns

ALGA National General Assembly, 23 - 25 June, Canberra

13th Australian Small Bridge Conference, 28 - 29 July, Adelaide

Engineering, Innovation, and Technology Forum, 18 - 20 August, Brisbane

Bridge and Geotechnical Conference, 24 - 25 August, Auckland

MegaTrans, 16 - 17 September, Melbourne