A comparative analysis of road safety performance across Australian states and cities reveals significant differences, with South Australia emerging as the safest for drivers, while the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) records the lowest scores.
Data from ROLLiN’ Insurance, based on more than 18 million kilometres of driving monitored through its Safe'n'Save app, provides insights into how regions perform.
South Australia achieved the highest driving safety score at 90.3 out of 100, followed closely by Queensland with 89.6 and Western Australia at 88.9.
Adelaide and the Sunshine Coast tied for second place among cities, each scoring 90.5.
However, Australia continues to face a persistent road safety challenge, with around 1,200 fatalities and over 40,000 serious injuries recorded annually.
In contrast, the ACT recorded the lowest safety score at 86.4, suggesting a higher incidence of risky driving.
The research found that one in six Australian drivers regularly engages in at least one dangerous habit. Speeding was the most common, admitted by 41.2% of respondents, while 19.4% reported driving while extremely tired.
The ACT stood out for negative reasons, with 57% of drivers admitting to speeding, 25% to driving while drowsy, and 20.6% to using a mobile phone without hands-free.
These figures suggest that risky behaviours are common, contributing to the region’s poor performance.
Road safety experts suggest that regional differences may be influenced by various factors, including infrastructure quality, traffic enforcement, driver education, and local driving culture.
Areas with strong safety scores, such as Geelong and South Australia, may benefit from stricter enforcement, public awareness campaigns, or safer road designs. Conversely, regions with lower scores may face challenges like higher traffic density or less effective enforcement.
Adrian Bennett, general manager for General Insurance at iSelect, pointed out that common risky behaviours — such as speeding, driving while drowsy, and mobile phone use — could also impact insurance claims.
"[Risky behaviours] could also impact the validity of your car insurance in the event of an accident,” said Bennett.
What measures do you think could help regions like the ACT achieve safer driving standards? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
