The NSW Government has helped fund Suncorp and the University of Melbourne’s research into young driver behaviour and road accident risk. 

It will provide the two groups a combined $1 million through the State Insurance Regulatory Authority. 

The announcement comes after eight people died on NSW roads over the Easter long weekend.   

State Innovation, Science and Technology Minister Anoulack Chanthivong says the move is “part of the NSW Government’s ongoing commitment to fund road safety research and programs that prevent or reduce injuries from motor crashes.    

“The tragic deaths of eight people across the Easter weekend demonstrates the value of this sort of research in helping to reduce future road deaths and trauma.”   

The research projects will use smartphone apps and telematics to give drivers personalised safety feedback and offer financial incentives to encourage people to behave safely and reduce emissions. 

Suncorp CEO Commercial and Personal Injury Michael Miller says more than 500 young drivers will be involved in its program, which tracks behaviour using telematics features via the AAMI Driver Rewards app.  

“Once the driver enables permissions through the AAMI app at the start of the research period, the app will automatically track the user’s driving without them touching it for six months, and score them on key behaviours like speeding, acceleration, cornering, braking and phone use,” Mr Miller said. “We’ll then analyse the data and work with the State Insurance Regulatory Authority to see if this approach can help improve road safety for young drivers and reward them for good driving behaviour.”  

He says changing driver behaviour is “never easy” and requires collaboration from insurers, governments and community groups.   

“We have to keep trialling new technology to see what works,” Mr Miller said. “Anything that has the potential to improve driving behaviour and reduce road accidents is worth trying.” 

The Government says the research will be delivered within the next two years, with the aim of reducing road deaths and making insurance more affordable.