Injury Analysis and Data
Led by Professor Stuart Newstead, the Injury Analysis and Data team has a focus on the assembly and enhancement of large and complex injury prevention data systems and the analysis of these using advanced statistical methodologies to evaluate programs, model safety strategies and generate robust quantitative evidence to advance safety practice.
The team’s expertise is highly multidisciplinary with fundamental training including statistics, data science, mechanical and civil engineering, criminology and epidemiology. Their work focuses on road safety, emergency services and injury surveillance research with a long history of contributing to public safety through safety analysis and modelling across jurisdictions in Australia and internationally.
Major projects
In 2025, the team completed projects examining the definition, estimation and analysis of injury severity metrics in Victoria and NSW, and published research estimating real-world safety benefits associated with blind spot monitoring systems in Australasian passenger vehicles.
The team collaborated with the Human Factors and Sustainable Safety team on their research into the learner licensing component of the Graduated Licensing System for Queensland drivers. The team continued with the evaluation of Queensland's camera-detected offence program for mobile phone and seatbelt offences, and completed evaluations of the Tasmanian and ACT road safety camera programs.
Additionally, the team is continuing research into the evaluation of NSW Automated Enforcement and Safer Roads Programs, which aims to understand if the current programs are operating effectively, and to identify further opportunities for improvement.
A major annual milestone was the release of the 2025 Used Car Safety Ratings, which received significant national media coverage for its emphasis on crash avoidance and vehicle aggressivity, analysing data from Australia and New Zealand. The team’s modelling of road safety strategies continues to inform key government priorities, while research on the National Heavy Vehicle Driver Competency Framework is guiding improvements in licensing standards.
Team milestones
Professor Newstead was awarded the 2025 Australasian College of Road Safety (ACRS) Fellowship at the Australasian Road Safety Conference in Perth.
Additionally, Professor Newstead was profiled in Wheels Magazine, a full feature that explored his experience and research, highlighting not only personal achievements but MUARC’s leadership in advancing road safety through high-impact research. Professor Newstead was invited back to be included on season two of Drive Safer, a Channel 9 program that addresses the alarming rise in road fatalities and promotes responsible driving habits.
Funding partners
2025 funding partners included the TAC, Transport for NSW, the Tasmanian Department of State Growth, Queensland Transport and Main Roads, the Victorian Department of Justice and Community Safety, along with established government consortium programs, the Vehicle Safety Research Group and Baseline Research Program.
The Injury Analysis and Data team has a notable and unique strength in the successful delivery of data-focused, highly analytical research across all injury prevention domains. With expertise in a wide range of research designs and analytical techniques, along with extensive knowledge of key safety data resources, the team has the capacity and capability to deliver high quality research outcomes over a wide range of projects. Areas of specific research expertise include evaluation science, data system design, risk analysis, strategic modelling, survey analysis and statistical epidemiology.