Professor Stuart Newstead awarded the 2025 ACRS Fellowship
Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC) Director, Professor Stuart Newstead, has been awarded the 2025 Australasian College of Road Safety (ACRS) Fellowship at the Australasian Road Safety Conference (ARSC) in Perth.
This prestigious honour recognises Professor Newstead’s exceptional, internationally recognised leadership in road safety research. Over his career, he has pioneered the development of vehicle safety ratings, led influential policy evaluations, and mentored the next generation of researchers - helping shape global frameworks that underpin safer roads and vehicles worldwide.
The recognition came during a standout conference for Professor Newstead, whose collaborative research and thought leadership were also highlighted through additional awards. His co-authored paper with Adrian Wilson from the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads, 'Estimating the road safety benefits of seatbelt cameras in Queensland', received the Best Submission with Implications for Improving Road Safety Policing.
In addition, Professor Newstead’s expert commentary featured in the award-winning article Australians are obsessed with SUVs and huge utes, but experts say they are making our roads deadlier by journalist Elias Visontay, which earned the ACRS Road Safety Reporting Award.
Professor Newstead said he was honoured to receive the Fellowship and proud to see research continue to play such a critical role in advancing safety outcomes.
“It’s a privilege to work alongside such talented colleagues and partners across Australia and internationally. Recognition like this reinforces the importance of evidence-based approaches to road safety and the ongoing need to translate research into meaningful policy and practice,” Professor Newstead said.
The ACRS Fellowship is awarded annually to individuals who have demonstrated sustained, outstanding leadership and made significant contributions to improving road safety outcomes across Australasia.
Researchers, industry partners, and prospective PhD students are encouraged to contact Professor Newstead to explore collaboration or postgraduate research opportunities in road safety.
Read more on the Injury Analysis and Data team at MUARC, and the Vehicle Safety Research Group (VSRG).