The New South Wales (NSW) Government has issued a call to the 6.9 million drivers across the state to make the safest decisions in 2025 and help reduce deaths on the roads.

NSW recorded a total of 340 road deaths in 2024 – the same number of people lost in 2023.

Speed remains the biggest killer on NSW roads. In 2024, 136 people died in crashes where speed was a factor. Figures also showed 234 people died on regional roads – down 2% on the previous year.

Deaths of bicycle riders hit the equal lowest level in the state’s history since detailed records began in 1960, with five cyclists dying in 2024, and pedestrian deaths are lower than in previous years.

However, a rise in motorcycle deaths have been recorded with 67 fatalities, an increase of 34% when compared to 2023 figures.

In response, the NSW Government is changing the Graduated Licensing Scheme for motorcyclists to improve novice rider training, testing standards, and licence requirements and said it will continue to roll out around $1 billion in infrastructure upgrades on regional and metropolitan roads.

A number of measures introduced in 2024 will also continue or expand in 2025. They include:

  • The trial of average speed cameras for light vehicles in 2025
  • Doubling roadside enforcement sites used for mobile speed cameras, with an additional 2,700 new sites where a camera can be deployed.
  • Seatbelt enforcement via the state’s existing mobile phone cameras
  • The demerit point return trial that encourages safe driving
  • Releasing more ratings for bicycle helmets as part of its star rating system

“Too many lives were lost on NSW roads in 2024,” said Minister for Roads John Graham.

“We should never become desensitised to the annual figure or accept that it should be as high as 340 as it has been for the last two years running. Every one of these 340 represents a family and network of loved ones and friends who will never be the same for having lost someone.

“If there is a bright spot in the data in 2024 it is that the sharply higher trend of fatalities recorded in 2023 has not continued and we did not see another increase in the total.”