New South Wales had its deadliest year on roads since 2017, with 355 people dying in 2025. This is 28 more than in 2024. The state government announced this on Friday. Speeding was the biggest killer, linked to 134 deaths. Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison urged people not to drive distracted or under influence and to "take their foot off the accelerator." She said, "It doesn’t have to be extreme speeding to be deadly, even a few kilometres over the limit can be the difference between a near-miss and a funeral." Evidence showed many deaths happened at speeds less than 10km/h above limits. Across Australia, road deaths rose again in 2025. There were 1,332 deaths nationwide in the 12 months to November, up from 1,300 in 2024 and 1,258 in 2023. Queensland recorded 302 deaths by December 24, matching the total for the whole of 2024 and marking a 16-year high after extra deaths over Christmas. Victoria saw 288 deaths, four more than last year. Victoria’s Assistant Commissioner Glenn Weir said, "Again in 2025, we have seen so many examples of the most simple and avoidable mistakes that have resulted in catastrophic road trauma." Tasmania recorded 44 deaths in 2025, a 42% increase from 31 in 2024. Acting Insp Penny Reardon said police are frustrated because "some drivers out there continue to disobey the rules and put people’s lives in danger," after over 1,130 speeding drivers were caught in 11 days. Western Australia reported 181 road deaths, South Australia 87, and the Northern Territory 38, all falling from last year's totals. The Australian Capital Territory recorded 9 deaths. Road deaths hit a 75-year low during the 2020 pandemic but have been rising since, at rates unseen since the 1960s. Experts link this rise to factors like more SUVs, mobile phone distractions, poor road quality, and speed limits on smaller roads. In NSW, about two-thirds of deaths (241) happened in rural areas. Cyclist deaths in the state rose from 5 to 15, including 3 e-bike riders.