Australia bridge strikes cost economy $101 million

A new report by HERE Technologies and the Australian Logistics Council (ALC) estimates that vehicle bridge strikes cost the Australian economy approximately $101 million during the 2024-2025 financial year. The study, which utilized research from economic consulting firm HoustonKemp, identifies roughly 1,220 incidents occurring within that 12-month period.

Incidents have increased by about 38 per cent since 2018, a trend expected to continue as freight volumes grow. The economic impact encompasses infrastructure and vehicle repairs, traffic congestion, rail service disruptions, supply chain interruptions, and emergency response costs.

Notably, the report highlights that over 40 per cent of the total costs are borne by the broader community rather than just the parties directly involved in the collisions, primarily through rail delays and emergency services. New South Wales was identified as the state contributing the largest share of these total costs.