Emerging engineers to build on local road safety

Published date: 13 Jul 2026

The Victorian Government and the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) are offering the next generation of engineers a pathway to a career in road safety, with submissions open today for the 2026 Future Road Competition.

The annual competition, now in its fourth year, offers undergraduate engineering students hands-on experience in designing safer roads, and a share in a $10,000 prize pool.

Each year, students are given a real-world case study of a road safety infrastructure project delivered by a local government across Victoria. In their submission, the students must demonstrate how they could apply ‘safe system' principles to deliver the project.

This year, students will base their submission on a safety upgrade to a roundabout at Gilles and Timor streets in central Warrnambool, a project delivered by Warrnambool City Council earlier this year.

Local governments manage 85 per cent of Victoria’s road network, which is why this initiative focuses on university students working with councils to solve complex road safety challenges.

Students gain industry-relevant experience, while councils benefit from fresh, evidence-based thinking grounded in a ‘Safe System’ approach to road infrastructure - an approach that focuses on designing roads and environments so that when mistakes happen, they don’t result in death or serious injury.

The Future Road competition was established following a 2018 national inquiry that identified a significant gap in road safety knowledge among engineering graduates.

While there is no dedicated road safety course in many engineering degrees, many graduates go on to work on roading projects that will have a direct impact on safety. The initiative helps bridge the gap between university training and real-world employment by embedding Safe System principles early.

The competition is open to undergraduate engineering students aged 18–30 from Victorian universities, with eligible individuals invited to participate as teams.

Last year's winners, ‘Team Innovators’ from RMIT, won the competition by applying Safe System principles to assess a real-world Bendigo intersection project and selecting the design solution now being delivered by Bendigo City Council. Their presentation showed how a compact roundabout, pedestrian crossings and raised safety platforms can reduce speeds and improve safety for pedestrians. The team's strong understanding of Safe System design and injury prevention helped secure the win.

Submissions open on 13 July and close 17 August. More information is available at the Future Road Competition page here: https://www.tac.vic.gov.au/road-safety/campaigns/future-road-competition

Quote attributed to Transport Accident Commission CEO, Tracey Slatter:

“By embedding Safe System principles early in future engineers’ careers, we’re building a stronger, safer future for all road users.”

“Programs like this help inspire the next generation to put safety at the centre of every design decision, shaping roads that better protect everyone who uses them.”