Caution:
This site includes information about child deaths, which some readers may find distressing. If you need support, free and confidential help is available.
We wish to convey our sincere condolences to the families and friends of the infants, children and young people in NSW who have died. It is our foremost responsibility to learn from these deaths and to use that knowledge to make a difference.
In 2022 and 2023, 69 children died in transport-related incidents in NSW, the leading cause of death from injury.
Most were passengers (59%), drivers (26%) or pedestrians (14%). While the transport death rate has fallen 20% since 2009, it has risen again since 2019.
Unsafe driver behaviour, including speeding, drug and alcohol use, inexperience, and failure to use restraints or helmets, was present in 87% of incidents.
Deaths were highest among young people aged 15–17 years, with males accounting for 66% of all transport deaths.
For young children (1–4 years), most incidents were low-speed run-overs near home (77%).
Children in regional or remote areas, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, and those in the most disadvantaged communities remain at greater risk.
Findings collected
2009-2023
Page last updated
5 November 2025
The majority of children were travelling in or on a vehicle at the time of the incident. Most deaths occurred on public roads, though some involved recreational vehicles such as quad bikes or motorbikes used off-road.
Among drivers and riders, 59% were inexperienced, and most were under 25 years of age. Inexperience often coincided with other high-risk behaviours such as speeding, alcohol or drug use, and not wearing restraints or helmets.
Critical factors linked to transport deaths in 2022 and 2023 were:
These factors often occurred together, greatly increasing the risk.
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Over the 15 years from 2009 to 2023, transport-related child deaths decreased by 20%. This long-term decline reflects improvements in road safety, vehicle design, and public awareness.
However, since 2019, the rate of transport deaths has been rising.
Patterns over the 15 years show that some groups of children and young people continue to face a higher risk of dying in transport incidents:
Male children consistently had higher transport-related mortality rates than females, with the rate for males almost twice as high.
Young people aged 15–17 years recorded the highest rate of transport deaths of any age group. They were most often involved as drivers or passengers. Infants and young children were mainly passengers or pedestrians in low-speed incidents.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people had transport mortality rates nearly 3 times higher than their non-Indigenous peers. While the rate for non-Indigenous children declined over time, the rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children showed little overall change.
Children living in regional and remote areas had a transport mortality rate around twice as high as those in major cities.
Children from the most disadvantaged areas had higher transport-related mortality rates than those from the least disadvantaged areas. Although the gap between groups narrowed slightly in recent years, the rate for children in disadvantaged areas was 3 times higher across the 15-year period.
The average proportion over the 15 years for children who died in transport incidents and had a child protection history was 34%.
This review was conducted by Neuroscience Australia, and examined the deaths of 66 children aged 0-12 years who died as passengers in NSW during the ten-year period, 2007-16.
In the context of the findings of a 10-year review of the role of seatbelts and child restraints in the deaths of 66 child passengers aged 1-12 years in vehicle crashes: Transport for NSW should undertake a study of child restraint practices in NSW. The study should have a particular focus on areas of socio-economic disadvantage and those outside major cities.
This recommendation was substantially implemented and has been closed.
In 2019, NSW Police launched a child vehicle restraint program in western Sydney to help families access the right car seats and learn how to use them safely.
Inspired by our 10-year review, the program began with Mount Druitt Police and local partners providing new, compliant restraints and hands-on fitting training.
It has since expanded across regional and remote NSW, with a statewide rollout in 2021.
Now delivered with Kidsafe NSW, the initiative trains police, health, and community workers to fit restraints correctly and support families locally. A new diversion scheme is being developed, allowing drivers fined for restraint offences to instead obtain and fit a compliant seat.
The NSW Government aims for zero road trauma by 2050. Its Road Safety Plan 2021 and 2026 Action Plan target a 50% reduction in fatalities by 2030, focusing on children and other vulnerable road users. Key strategies include automated enforcement, education campaigns and the Graduated Licensing Scheme.
Young people in regional NSW face higher risks due to longer travel distances, high-speed roads and older vehicles.
In 2022–2023, over half of fatal crashes involving inexperienced, at-fault drivers occurred in regional areas, often linked to speeding, lack of restraints and alcohol or drug use.
The Government is considering the Safer Cars for Country Kids program to help young regional drivers access newer, safer vehicles.
Our data shows that 60% of child transport deaths (2018–2023) occurred in regional or remote areas, mostly involving vehicles more than 10 years old.
We will monitor outcomes and related prevention efforts.
EPVs such as e-bikes, e-scooters, and mobility devices, are increasingly used for short trips at speeds under 25 km/h.
In NSW, e-bikes are permitted on public roads under specific conditions, while e-scooters are restricted to private property, with limited public trials underway.
In 2022–2023, two young people died while riding EPVs.
A Parliamentary inquiry established in June 2024 examined e-mobility safety, regulation, and benefits. We wrote to the NSW Government supporting 5 recommendations and highlighting:
We will continue to monitor child deaths and injuries involving EPVs to inform future prevention efforts.