Road safety is often thought of as something that begins on the road, but for many people it actually begins much earlier, in the workplace, in daily routines, and in the decisions made before someone even gets behind the wheel.

As we approach National Road Safety Week (17–24 May 2026), the Transport Accident Commission is calling on communities and businesses across Victoria to take an active role in building safer behaviours, stronger workplace cultures and more mindful travel decisions.

The Geelong Chamber of Commerce is proud to support TAC as a Gold Corporate Partner throughout this important week, helping bring these messages into local workplaces and business networks. At its heart, this is a shared responsibility. Safer roads are created through everyday actions, not just policy or infrastructure.

As National Road Safety Week approaches, TAC Chief Executive Officer Tracey Slatter has shared a message of reflection and collective responsibility for safer roads across Victoria. She highlights the importance of recognising both the lives lost and the ongoing commitment needed to prevent further road trauma, while encouraging businesses and community leaders to play an active role in shaping safer behaviours.

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Message from Tracey Slatter, CEO, Transport Accident Commission

As National Road Safety Week approaches, I want to thank you for the role you play as community partners in championing a culture of road safety across Victoria.

At the TAC, our purpose is clear. We are working towards a future where no one is killed or seriously injured on our roads. Our vision is that every journey is a safe one.

This vision is shared across our communities and strengthened by the leadership shown in everyday moments and the choices we all make.

In 2025, tragically 291 people lost their lives on Victorian roads. During National Road Safety Week, we pause to honour those lives, acknowledge the families forever changed, and reflect on the responsibility we all share to prevent future tragedy.

National Road Safety Week is a call to action for all of us to be road safety champions within our workplaces and communities. It is a catalyst to extend these conversations beyond one week and embed road safety into everyday culture.

We are calling on businesses and leaders to:

• Use available National Road Safety Week resources and encourage participation in the road safety pledge
• Share road safety messages through workplaces, meetings and communication channels
• Lead by example and model safe driving behaviours across teams and networks

Every moment matters on our roads. Slowing down, buckling up, planning ahead if alcohol is involved, starting journeys well rested, and removing distractions all make a difference.

These everyday choices protect lives and help prevent tragedy.

Please join us in shining a light on the moments that matter this National Road Safety Week. It takes all of us working together towards zero lives lost or seriously injured on our roads.

Yours sincerely,
Tracey Slatter
Chief Executive Officer
Transport Accident Commission

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What this means for business?

For employers, road safety is not separate from workplace culture. It shows up in how meetings are scheduled, how fatigue is managed, how expectations are set around communication, and how employees travel to and from work or events. Small workplace behaviours can unintentionally influence risk on the road, from encouraging immediate responses while driving to late finishes that lead to fatigue or leaving travel planning until the end of an event.

National Road Safety Week is an opportunity for businesses to reflect on these everyday moments and consider how they can better support safer decisions. The TAC has developed a stakeholder pack to support organisations in taking part, which includes ready to use messaging, campaign assets and practical ideas that can be shared across workplaces and networks.

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How Geelong businesses can get involved

The TAC’s National Road Safety Week resources make it easy for organisations of all sizes to take part.

To support participation, TAC has developed a stakeholder pack with ready to use messaging, campaign assets, and practical ideas that businesses can adapt across their workplace and communication channels.

👉 Download the National Road Safety Week Stakeholder Pack here: Download National Road Safety Week Stakeholder Pack Here

Businesses are encouraged to use the pack to:

• Share road safety messaging across internal and external channels
• Encourage staff to make the “Drive so others survive” pledge ➡️ Make the Pledge Here
• Promote safe travel planning for work events and after work functions
• Support conversations around fatigue and safe decision making after long workdays
• Reinforce safe driving behaviours through leadership and workplace culture

These actions do not need to be large to be effective. Often, the smallest shifts in workplace culture have the biggest impact on the road.