Research
Research
We analyse a wide range of data and crash statistics from across the state to help develop practical solutions that improve road safety in NSW.
We have some of the most extensive road safety information in the world which supports safety improvements on NSW roads.
A Safe System approach is central to moving Towards Zero fatalities and serious injuries on our roads. The 4 elements of the Safe System are safer people, safe roads, safer speeds and safer vehicles. By improving the safety of all parts of the system, if 1 element fails, then the other 3 elements can still function to protect people from being killed or seriously injured.
Crashlab
Crashlab’s world-class facility has provided a wide range of national research and commercial testing services for more than 40 years. It is accredited as a testing laboratory by the:
- National Association of Testing Authorities
- UK Vehicle Certification Authority
- Saudi Arabian Standards Organisation.
Crashlab’s test laboratory supports technical contribution to the development and improvement of Australian Standards and Australian Design Rules for seatbelts, child restraints, helmets (pedal cycle and motorcycle), bus seats, wheelchair restraints and vehicle occupant protection in frontal, side and rear impacts.
At Crashlab, we're able to do:
- Dynamic sled testing of child restraints, seatbelts, car/bus/ferry/aircraft seats and wheelchair restraints
- Helmet testing (motorcycle, pedal cycle and equestrian)
- Harness testing (industrial/sporting harness and fall arrest devices)
- Accident investigation of safety equipment from vehicle crashes
- test frontal offset, side impact and pole side impact on behalf of ANCAP.
The crash barrier features a 480-square-metre central crash hall, 180m of fully enclosed concrete runway and a movable 110 tonne crash reaction block. A further 30m of uncovered runway leads into an outdoor area where vehicle roll-over and road safety barrier tests are conducted. The DC drive control system can accurately and safely accelerate an 8-tonne truck from rest to 80km/h or a 3-tonne vehicle up to 110km/h.
Our sophisticated crash test dummies have many sensors to measure the forces and accelerations in a crash. We have dummies that represent adults and children of different sizes. They mimic the dimensions, weight distribution and joint articulation of the human body and are capable of measuring the forces on the body in a vehicle crash.
A vehicle crash is a violent and rapid event usually occurring in less than half a second. The loads and forces that result in serious occupant injury often occur in the first one-tenth of a second. Measurements and data generated from the dummies in a crash test are captured rapidly on sophisticated recording instruments.
Future Mobility Testing and Research Centre
The Transport for NSW Future Mobility Testing and Research Centre is set to become NSW’s next 5-star safety testing facility, in addition to the established CrashLab facility at Huntingwood.
The development and uptake of new and emerging vehicle and other road safety technologies is beneficial in reducing road trauma. This facility, on the site of a former airstrip at Cudal in Central Western NSW, can test these technologies.
The Cudal facility provides simulated, open road and junctions for technicians to test technologies such as:
- Autonomous Emergency Braking – vehicle to vehicle systems
- Autonomous Emergency Braking - vulnerable road user systems
- Lane Keep Assist
- Speed Assist Systems
Future plans for the facility will allow technicians to test and refine emerging technologies such as vehicle-to-traffic signal communications and complex vehicle-to-vehicle systems.
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Research information
Safer people
- NSW Safety Performance Indicator Observational Study Report (PDF, 1.09 MB)
- NSW Safety Performance Indicator Observational Study – Summary Report (PDF, 247.25 KB)
- NSW Drink and Drug Driving Reforms - Monitoring Report 4 - Janurary 2022 (PDF, 544.23 KB)
- NSW Drink and Drug Driving Reforms - Monitoring Report 3 - July 2021 (PDF, 407.49 KB)
- NSW Drink and Drug Driving Reforms - Monitoring Report 2 - Janurary 2021 (PDF, 543.67 KB)
- NSW Drink and Drug Driving Reforms - Monitoring Report - July 2020 (PDF, 604.94 KB)
- NSW Drink and Drug Driving Reforms - Operational Review (PDF, 138.52 KB)
- Mandatory Alcohol Interlock Summary Report (PDF, 247.99 KB)
- Older Driver Licensing System Evaluation (PDF, 383.24 KB)
- Older Driver Safety and Mobility Review (PDF, 238.56 KB)
- Safer Drivers Course Process Evaluation - Summary Report (PDF, 252.94 KB)
- Shared Paths - Research Findings (PDF, 111.09 KB)
- Australian Graduated Licensing Scheme policy framework (PDF, 378.3 KB)
- Trial of Minimum Passing Distance Rule for drivers passing cyclists (PDF, 189.97 KB)
- Pilot of heavy vehicle electronic work diaries – final report (PDF, 1.2 MB)
- Keeping kids safe around schools – fact sheet (PDF, 2.43 MB)
- Motorcycle lane filtering trial – summary report (PDF, 1.05 MB)
- Evaluation of the NSW Motorcycle Graduated Licensing Scheme - summary report (PDF, 460.9 KB)
- Drink driving attitudes and behaviours in NSW - summary report (PDF, 794.06 KB)
- Modelling Potential Trauma Reductions of Automated Mobile Phone Enforcement in NSW (PDF, 1.22 MB)
Safer roads
- Safe System Assessment Framework For Movement and Place Practitioners (PDF, 37.48 MB)
- An Initial Study of Motorcyclists’ Perceptions of Audio Tactile Line Marking (PDF, 403.82 KB)
Newcastle Light Rail – road safety review (PDF, 1.37 MB)
Review of Road Safety: M4 Eastbound Off-ramp at Church Street, near Parramatta (PDF, 2.83 MB)
- AiRAP Automation for Australian Road Safety (PDF, 4.39 MB)
Other guidelines and assessment methods that help improve safety on NSW roads include:
- The NSW speed zoning guidelines
- Road safety assessment methods (PDF, 228.64 KB)
- Head-on crashes with heavy vehicles: Relevance of safety barriers (PDF, 40.33 KB)
- Guidelines for Road Safety Audit Practices (PDF, 1016.1 KB)
Route safety has been reviewed on the New England, Mid Western and Great Western highways. Other reviews include the:
Safer speeds
- Evaluation of Permanent 40km/h Speed Limits (PDF, 750.45 KB)
- Evaluation of the trial of 40km/h speed limit around stationary emergency vehicles (PDF, 133.65 KB)
- Evaluation of 40 km/h Speed Limits (PDF, 3.01 MB)
- Estimated Benefits of Expanding NSW Mobile Speed Camera Program (PDF, 1012.33 KB)
- Average Speed Cameras – fact sheet (PDF, 112.78 KB)
- NSW safety camera review – final report (PDF, 144.81 KB)
- Mobile speed camera operations in other Australian jurisdictions – research report
Safer vehicles
- Future Vehicle Safety Priority Areas, Light Vehicle Fleet (PDF, 5.01 MB)
- Evaluation of Autonomous Emergency Braking and Forward Collision Warning (PDF, 4.71 MB)
- Evaluation of Roll Stability Control (PDF, 1.15 MB)
- Assessing the Safety Impacts of Attachments on Motorcycle Helmets (PDF, 279.26 KB)
- Potential Road Safety Benefits of Making Safer Vehicle Choices in Australia and New Zealand - Summary Report (PDF, 149.5 KB)
- Potential Road Safety Benefits of Making Safer Vehicle Choices in Australia (PDF, 900.47 KB)
- Technical Specification: Requirements for vehicle frontal protection systems fitted to light vehicles (PDF, 2.11 MB)
- Safety technologies for heavy vehicles (PDF, 3.45 MB)
- Analysis of Heavy Vehicle Safety Performance in Australia (PDF, 4.17 MB)
- Fresnel lens trial research - summary report (PDF, 388.45 KB)
- Heavy Vehicle Drivers - Seatbelt Use (PDF, 905.36 KB)
Road Safety Technology
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For more information
Please email for any Crashlab enquiries
Please email the Future Mobility Testing and Research Centre if you're interested in working with us or if you’d like to learn more.
Safe roads, speeds, people and cars should work together in the Safe System approach to reduce deaths and serious injuries on NSW roads.