Introduction
Whether a journey is by car, plane, train or any other mode of transport, it begins with a simple assumption – that we will safely get to where we are going. We buckle a seatbelt, check a timetable, print out a boarding pass, then step forward with trust in systems, strangers and the unseen choices of others. Despite having safer vehicles than ever before, as well as safer networks and technology around them, government funding commitments, well-meaning initiatives to keep travellers safe and the best endeavours of transport safety practitioners, not every journey ends safely. That is why NTRO has established the Centre for Transport Safety Asia Pacific with the support of its strategic partner – world-renowned Cranfield University from the UK.
1. When Routine Journeys go Wrong
For some, a routine trip becomes a defining moment – and not in a good way. A moment’s distraction, an error, a mechanical or system failure, or a decision made in haste can unravel lives in an instant through death or injury on our transport networks.
Some do not make it home at all. In some modes and jurisdictions, that number is growing year on year – in Australia, there were 1,326 road deaths in the 12 months prior to March 2026, 3% higher than the same time the previous year (Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts 2026). For aviation, the Asia Pacific region’s accident rate has increased significantly to 1.62 per million departures in 2024 from 0.78 in 2023, with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) saying the increasing number of accidents and fatalities serve as a stark reminder of the need to continue ensuring the safety of air travel amidst increasing growth and complexity (ICAO 2025).
For many others, their lives are reshaped by injury, loss or trauma that lingers long after the wreckage is cleared and the headlines fade.
2. The Case for a Cross-Modal Approach
Transport safety is usually defined and designed by modes: road; rail; aviation; and maritime. The lessons learned in one transport mode are rarely applied to another and there has never been a formal mechanism for sharing them across modes.
NTRO and UK-based Cranfield University believe that needs to change. The Centre for Transport Safety Asia Pacific is a new initiative of NTRO, developed with the support of Cranfield, which aims to drive significant and lasting improvements in transport safety for all transport domains across the Asia-Pacific region.
Cranfield is a global leader in transport safety education and training across aviation, marine, rail and road. It is trusted by defence forces, government regulators, investigation agencies, aircraft manufacturers and large-scale enterprises, and works with 1,500 organisations across 40 countries. The collaboration between NTRO and Cranfield is an example of the power of sharing knowledge and of partnership, with the joint venture already delivering training in Australia.
3. No Competitors in Safety
In establishing the Centre, NTRO has drawn on a profound principle: that there are no competitors in safety. This was first articulated by William (Bill) Voss, former CEO of the Flight Safety Foundation and former Director of the Air Navigation Bureau at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and it captures one of the foundation values of the new Centre for Transport Safety Asia Pacific of an industry-wide, cross-domain, collaborative approach.
One of the Centre’s highest priorities is to create a platform and environment where collaboration and the exchange of knowledge, experience and ideas can take place. NTRO’s structure and status make it a logical and appropriate host for an initiative of this kind.
NTRO is independent, not-for-profit, owned by the governments of Australia and New Zealand at State and Federal levels and the Australian Local Government Association, and has a footprint in the Asia-Pacific region through its work in Australia, New Zealand, India, Tonga, Fiji and Vanuatu.
The Centre will coordinate with organisations responsible for or affected by transport safety, including government and regulatory authorities, industry and industry bodies, research bodies and universities. Together, they will work to improve transport safety across all modes in the Asia-Pacific region.
As transport volumes continue to grow across the already busy Asia-Pacific region, the Centre is a timely way for NTRO and Australia to support neighbouring countries.
4. Six Pillars for Safer Transport
The Centre for Transport Safety Asia Pacific will focus its work through six core pillars:
- Applied safety research.
- Standards development and management.
- Professional development and education.
- Advisory and implementation services.
- Safety data and Intelligence
- Technology and infrastructure innovation.
The Centre will also foster thought leadership and whenever necessary, convene or prompt difficult conversations on the issues that need to be discussed. The Centre aims to become the central repository for knowledge and expertise around transport safety and the sharing of that knowledge across all sectors.
5. Early Priorities and Practical Action
Facilitating applied research and sharing knowledge across jurisdictions and transport modes are central to the Centre’s purpose and long-term value. The Centre’s first activity was delivering the Cranfield Aviation Safety Investigation short course in Melbourne in April 2026, with attendees from the commercial airline industry, the defence sector, the general aviation sector and the emergency services.
The Centre is in the process of scheduling similar courses in rail safety investigation and road safety investigation. One of its next major priorities is to develop a national, no-blame road crash investigation standard, which will be a major step forward for the road safety agenda in Australia. The Centre will undertake the initial development work on the standard, followed by comprehensive engagement with all applicable government and industry stakeholders. Once this feedback is consolidated, Australia’s first national standard for no-blame road crash investigations will be published.
6. A 2030 Vision for the Region
By 2030, the Centre aims to have moved the dial in a positive way for transport safety. Its aims include:
- A downward trend in accidents, fatalities and serious injuries across the board.
- A more coordinated approach to safety policy frameworks, strategy and funding across each region in which the Centre works, including stronger alignment between jurisdictions such as states and territories.
- A much more efficient use of funding for safety-related initiatives, with funding guided by risk modelling backed by sound and targeted applied research.
- A more professional workforce standard for transport safety and accident investigation professionals in the region, supported by targeted, risk-informed training and a credible accreditation framework.
- Better access to transport safety research data and intelligence (i.e. how the Centre uses the data).
- Creating lasting mechanisms that become part of the ‘operations normal’ methodology for sharing knowledge across transport domains.
There is a clearly identified demand and need for improved safety standards, intelligence and skills throughout the region and across all transport domains. Bringing together leading expertise from across the transport safety sector will deliver significant and lasting benefits.
The Centre for Transport Safety Asia Pacific is a mechanism for positive change. It is a world-first concept dedicated to saving lives, preventing serious injuries, as well as reducing the emotional and economic impacts on individuals and our society at large. The Centre is actively seeking partners and subject matter experts to support its critical mission: a safer transport future.
The next step is clear: no competitors, just collaboration and a shared commitment to radically improving transport safety outcomes.
