With motorcycle fatalities reaching a ten-year high in 2025, Transport for New South Wales is resetting how riders think about risk on the road in a campaign via Droga 5 ANZ, Part of Accenture Song.
Four high-risk behaviours were identified as priority areas for intervention: cornering, intersections, overtaking and wearing protective gear.
“The riding community is full of stories of seemingly innocuous objects or conditions, resulting in a near miss – or worse,” said Droga5 ANZ chief creative officer, Barbara Humphries.
“This campaign aims to alert riders to the need to never let their guard down, even on seemingly ‘safe’ roads. By showing the hidden menace hiding in the familiar and banal, we’re using a new visual language to disarm, avoiding shock and fearmongering which causes many riders to self-exempt.
“The campaign is designed to elevate riders’ perception of risk on every journey, regardless of experience, prompt reflection on everyday behaviours, and equip both riders and drivers with the knowledge to better protect one another on the road.”
Riding is central to many riders’ identity, closely tied to freedom, pride and community, according to research by Transport for NSW.
However, overconfidence among newer riders was linked to increased risk-taking. While most riders acknowledged the importance of protective gear, many still believed full protection wasn’t necessary for every trip.
The state-wide campaign launched this month, rolling out across broadcast video on demand, online video, social, digital, radio, out-of-home and press.
“We want this campaign to start a more honest conversation about the everyday risks riders face when out on our roads and the need for them to be constantly on the lookout for danger to keep themselves safe,” said Transport for NSW director of road and maritime safety, Evan Walker.
“By focusing on everyday decisions – low-risk riding, protective gear and awareness, the campaign encourages people to think differently about risk before they get on the road and while they are riding before something goes wrong.”
CAMPAIGN CREDITS:
Client: Transport for New South Wales
Executive Director, Communications: Mel Stewart
Campaigns Manager: Philip Sherar
Campaigns Specialist: Christina Lazaridis
Creative Agency: Droga5 ANZ
Chief Executive Officer: Matt Michael
Chief Creative Officer: Barbara Humphries & Damon Stapleton
National Head of Production: Romanca Mundrea
Head of Production: Penny Brown
Head of Effectiveness: Kit Lansdell
Executive Creative Director: Christie Cooper
Executive Creative Director: James Conner
Group Business Director: Patrick Lynch
Group Business Director: Jenny McLarney
Business Director: Jack Asimus
Senior Producer: Kaija Wall
Senior Producer: Vanessa Fernandez
Design Director: James Halliday
Senior Designer: Stephanie Mo
Production Company: Sweetshop
Director: Jakob Marky
Co-Managing Directors: Edward Pontifex & Greg Fyson
Executive Producer: Kate Roydhouse
Producer: Nicole Crozier
DOP: Sam Chiplin
Post Production: ARC
Editor: Drew Thompson
Colourist: Billy Wychgel
Online Artist: Eugene Richards
Sound & Music: Liquidstudios NZ
Production Company: Sam I Am
Photographer: Toby Burrows
Retouching: Electric Art
Media Agency: OMD
Snr Planning Manager: Rhys Davies
Implementation Manager: Guida Helal
Implementation Manager: Andrew Spearing
Planning Executive: Kayley Macgonigal
