---
title: Youth sign pledge to be safer for Road Safety Week
date: 2026-05-18T14:00:00+10:00
author: Courtney Hayles
canonical_url: "https://maib.tas.gov.au/news/youth-sign-pledge-to-be-safer-for-road-safety-week"
section: News
---
#  Tasmanian students pledge safer choices for Road Safety Week 

 Posted 18 May 2026 | [Media Releases,](https://maib.tas.gov.au/news?c=media-releases) [Article,](https://maib.tas.gov.au/news?c=article) [Road Safety](https://maib.tas.gov.au/news?c=road-safety)

 

 

Tasmanian teenagers urged to pledge safer choices on the road as MAIB launches National Road Safety Week with a school event in Hobart.

 

 

 

 

    

The Motor Accidents Insurance Board (MAIB) held a road safety pledge signing event at Hobart High School today (18 May) with year 10 students at the school to officially launch Road Safety Week.

Students gathered to hear real stories and experiences from Tasmania Police accident investigators, a trauma clinician from the Royal Hobart Hospital and a Tasmanian living with a spinal injury, as well as being invited to sign a road safety pledge.

Young Tasmanians continue to be over-represented in crash statistics, with MAIB data showing that in the last five years 1,078 Tasmanians aged between 16 and 20 years have been involved in a crash that requires a claim to the MAIB.

Sadly, 18 of those Tasmanians lost their lives and 334 received serious injuries.

MAIB Chief Executive Officer Paul Kingston said the event was an opportunity for road safety to feel more real for the students and give them a more intimate understanding of the impact road crashes have on the whole community including drivers, passengers, families and emergency services.

“When someone signs a pledge in front of peers, teachers, family or the community, it can reinforce that their choices matter and that they have a role in keeping themselves and others safe,” he said.

“For young drivers in particular, the early years of driving are when lifelong habits can be formed, so these kinds of events can be a lasting reminder that they can take with them on the roads.”

Chair of the Road Safety Advisory Council Scott Tilyard said while serious casualties in the 16-25 age group had been decreasing, young Tasmanians remained some of the state’s most vulnerable road users.

“They make up just 11 per cent of the population, yet account for more than 20 per cent of people killed or seriously injured on our roads,” he said.

“Road safety stakeholders across Tasmania continue to invest in education, training and programs that help young people build safe lifelong habits.

“National Road Safety Week is a reminder that while infrastructure, safe vehicles, and enforcement are vital, the choices each of us makes on the road are also critically important. It’s a chance for all of us to pause, reflect and think about how we keep each other safe every day.”

National Road Safety Week 2026 takes place from 17 to 24 May.

Across Australia Government, emergency services, not-for-profit organisations and commercial partners have created a range of educational and community experiences focused on road safety in Australia.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   [  ![Paraquad 1](https://maib.tas.gov.au/volumes/images/Images/Articles/_600x600_crop_center-center_none/14330/Paraquad-1.webp) 

 

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### Helping young Tasmanians make safer choices

 
BodySafe is helping young Tasmanians think twice before taking risks, using real lived experience to spark honest conversations about road safety, injury prevention and personal responsibility.

 

  

  ](https://maib.tas.gov.au/news/helping-young-tasmanians-make-safer-choices)  

  [  #### Next post 

### MAIB Foundation funding boosts road crash rescue capability in North-East Tasmania

 
The Motor Accidents Insurance Board (MAIB) Injury Prevention and Management Foundation has committed $120,000 to strengthen road crash rescue capability in Tasmania’s North-East, supporting the delivery of two new Heavy Road Crash Rescue Vehicles for the St Helens and St Marys State Emergency Service units.

 

  

 ![MAIB Foundation Media Event 1](https://maib.tas.gov.au/volumes/images/Banners/_600x600_crop_center-center_none/13965/MAIB-Foundation-Media-Event-1.webp) 

 

  ](https://maib.tas.gov.au/news/maib-foundation-funding-boosts-road-crash-rescue-capability-in-north-east-tasmania)