What kind of projects/safety upgrades are eligible?

A Black Spot is an area or stretch of road where serious crashes have occurred, or are at risk of occurring.

The Black Spot program funds safety upgrades such as traffic signals, roundabouts, street lighting, pedestrian facilities, line marking and guardrails.

Projects that are not eligible for funding include road maintenance, highway upgrades, flyovers, public transport, or construction of new roads.

See more information about Black Spot eligibility.

Who can nominate a Black Spot, and how?

Anyone can nominate a Black Spot in their area, at any time. Nominees are strongly encouraged to speak to their local council first, to seek support for the nomination.

Black Spot nominations are invited from the people who know their local roads best – individuals, community and road user groups, state and local governments or industry.

To make a nomination, please complete the Black Spot Nomination Form and send it to your state or territory authority (listed on the form).

When are the nomination deadlines? 

Submissions are accepted year-round, and nominated Black Spot projects are considered annually by a consultative panel of road safety experts in each state and territory.

While nominations can be made at any time, each jurisdiction has different timelines and closing dates.

Generally speaking, applications close between July and November for projects to be considered for the following financial year.

How much funding is available for Black Spot projects?

The Australian Government is providing $150 million in funding nationally in 2025-26 to improve road safety and reduce motor vehicle crashes, through the Black Spot Program.

The amount of funding provided per project varies – see approved projects in each state for examples – but will not exceed $3 million. Priority is ordinarily given to low-cost, high-return projects.

How are successful projects selected?

Once submitted, the nomination is assessed by the relevant state or territory transport agency or the local council, to make sure it meets the eligibility criteria.

They will carry out an economic assessment of the proposed project, and in some cases a Road Safety Audit will be undertaken.

From there, eligible nominations are considered annually by the Consultative Panel in each state and territory, who recommend projects for approval by the responsible Minister.