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Cover of Review of Road Safety Management: Frameworks, Principles and System Leadership
Review of Road Safety Management: Frameworks, Principles and System Leadership
  • Publication no: AP-T396-26
  • ISBN: 978-1-923617-65-0
  • Published: 22 October 2026

This report examines the road safety management systems and leadership practices that underpin road safety performance in Australia and New Zealand. The report documents current knowledge and practice relating to road safety management.

The methodology for this research involved a literature review, mapping of institutional management functions of Austroads member jurisdictions, stakeholder consultation, and a review of leadership development literature and programs.

The findings validate established good practice frameworks and identify 10 components of effective road safety management. The report also highlights the importance of accountability in road safety management and emphasises the critical role that system leaders play in driving road safety outcomes.

The report concludes that quality road safety management systems, accountability arrangements and system leadership is the foundation for sustained road safety improvement.

  • Summary
  • 1. Introduction
    • 1.1 Purpose
    • 1.2 Scope
    • 1.3 Methodology
    • 1.4 Key terms and acronyms
  • 2. Part A: Road Safety Management Frameworks and Principles Literature Review
    • 2.1 Scoping review method
    • 2.2 Effective road safety management
    • 2.3 Ten components of effective road safety management from the literature review
    • 2.4 Institutional management functions, interventions, and road safety results
    • 2.5 Accountability in road safety
    • 2.6 Accountability and responsibility
    • 2.7 Road safety governance
    • 2.8 Public sector management
    • 2.9 Applying road safety management in practice
  • 3. Part A: Road Safety Management Frameworks and Principles Stakeholder Engagement
    • 3.1 Institutional mapping
      • 3.1.1 Approach
      • 3.1.2 Findings from the institutional mapping
      • 3.1.3 Summary of observations
    • 3.2 Stakeholder consultation
      • 3.2.1 Approach
      • 3.2.2 Stakeholder engagement findings
  • 4. Part A: Road Safety Management Frameworks and Principles Discussion
    • 4.1 Key findings
    • 4.2 Accountability
  • 5. Part A: Road Safety Management Frameworks and Principles Conclusions
    • 5.1 Conclusions
  • 6. Part B: Road Safety Management Leadership Literature Review
    • 6.1 Introduction
    • 6.2 Approach to the literature review
    • 6.3 System leaders in road safety management
    • 6.4 Good practice in leadership training and development
      Road safety training and professional development programs
    • 6.5 Road safety management key capabilities for system leaders
    • 6.6 Effective leadership development in other domains
  • 7. Part B: Road Safety Management Leadership and Development Stakeholder Engagement
    • 7.1 Approach
    • 7.2 Findings
  • 8. Part B: Road Safety Management Leadership and Development Discussion
    • 8.1 Applying road safety leadership in practice
    • 8.2 Strengthening road safety leadership and improving accountability
  • 9. Part B: Road Safety Management Leadership and Development Conclusions
    • 9.1 Conclusions
  • 10. Conclusions
  • References
  • Appendix A Safety management accountabilities
  • Appendix B Road safety training and professional development programs
  • Appendix C Public sector leadership capability
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