The ACRS Excellence in Road Safety Award – established in 2024 – recognises outstanding projects, programs, initiatives, and partnerships that are making a measurable contribution to reducing road trauma and improving safety outcomes across communities.
The award celebrates innovation, leadership, collaboration, and evidence-based practice in road safety. Open to multidisciplinary teams and organisations from across Australia, New Zealand, and internationally, the award highlights initiatives that demonstrate meaningful impact and strong alignment with Safe System principles.
The ACRS Excellence in Road Safety Award acknowledges that road trauma is shaped by a complex range of systematic, societal, environmental, policy, and governance factors. Nominations are encouraged from projects addressing issues such as infrastructure safety, vulnerable road user protection, behavioural change, vehicle safety, enforcement, trauma care, urban planning, and community engagement.
Projects will be assessed against a comprehensive set of criteria, including:
- Innovation and initiative
- Community engagement and ownership
- Replication potential across jurisdictions
- Demonstrated road safety impact and outcomes
- Cost-effectiveness and efficient delivery
- Consideration of broader policy and systemic influences
The award particularly values projects that demonstrate measurable reductions in crash risk, speed, or injury severity, as well as initiatives that build long-term community ownership and can be adapted for use in other regions or contexts.
Nominations are open to project teams comprising government agencies, researchers, industry, community organisations, consultancies, emergency services, advocacy groups, and other stakeholders working collaboratively to improve road safety outcomes.
By recognising excellence and sharing leading practice, the ACRS aims to strengthen knowledge exchange across the road safety sector and encourage the development of scalable, evidence-informed solutions that save lives and prevent serious injuries on our roads.
Previous Winners
2025 – Mornington Peninsula Shire Council
2024 – The George Institute for Global Health
Previous Highly Commended
2025 – CRASH and MotoCAP Safety Ratings (TNSW)
2025 – Auckland Transport & New Zealand Police
2024 – City of Onkaparinga Council
2024 – Mornington Peninsula Shire Council
Award Criteria
To make a submission for this award, the project team must include a member of the Australasian College of Road Safety (ACRS).
Submissions must demonstrate:
- A clearly defined road safety issue or challenge
- Evidence-based approaches and alignment with Safe System principles
- Measurable outcomes or impact in reducing road trauma or risk
- Innovation in policy, practice, technology, infrastructure, or engagement
- Strong collaboration with stakeholders, partners, or communities
- Consideration of broader systemic, societal, environmental, or policy factors
- Potential for replication or adaptation in other locations or contexts
- Cost-effective delivery and sustainable long-term outcomes
Winner Receives
The winner of the Excellence in Road Safety Award receives:
- Registration to the 2026 Australasian Road Safety Conference (2026 ARSC) in Sydney, Australia
- Return flights to the 2026 ARSC for winner
- Accommodation for night of ACRS Awards ceremony
- Glass trophy
- Two -minute acceptance speech
Highly Commended Award winner receives:
- Framed certificate
Submission Procedure
Submission is to be made through the online Excellence in Road Safety Award nomination/submission form and completed by a current ACRS member.
General Information
The project team for your project must include a member of the Australasian College of Road Safety (ACRS) – to learn more about ACRS membership, click here.
If you have any questions regarding this award, please contact the Australasian College of Road Safety by email: admin@acrs.org.au.
Thank you to Acusensus, the official sponsor of the 2026 ACRS Excellence in Road Safety Award.
Past Award (2011 – 2022) – 3M-ACRS Diamond Road Safety Award
From 2011 – 2022, 3M and ACRS joined forces to create the 3M-ACRS Diamond Road Safety Award, to recognise people and projects who provided exemplary innovation and effectiveness to save lives and injuries on roads. Click here to see a list of previous winners (2011 – 2022).