Australia’s streak of making roads safer isn’t just about rule books and stats. It’s about keeping workers alive. Road workers face serious danger every time a lane changes or cones go up. Removing frontline personnel from harm’s way is not just smart, it is essential. Let’s take a look at how ARROWES’ road safety innovations, like the Automated Cone Truck and the eSERIES, including the eSTOP, are reducing risk and saving lives.
A mounting challenge on Australian roads
Work‑related vehicle incidents represent a huge slice of Australia’s workplace fatalities. According to Safe Work Australia, vehicle incidents account for 42 per cent of worker fatalities, making them the leading cause of death at work.
Road crashes are also the most common cause of occupational deaths and absences. They cost the Australian community roughly $1.5 billion annually.
Add to that the human toll. In North Queensland alone, Townsville has logged 3,526 injury claims so far in 2025, with 262 serious cases, compared to 3,214 claims and 236 serious injuries in the same period in 2024.
In work zones, the stats are grim. On average, there are 18 fatal worksite crashes and 245 serious injuries annually. Nearly 100 road industry workers have been hit by cars, while 80 per cent of motorists exceed speed limits, and 20 per cent strike traffic cones marking these zones.
These figures spotlight the danger. And while the National Road Safety Strategy aims to halve fatalities and reduce serious injuries by 30 per cent by 2030, frontline workers need better protection now.
Removing frontline personnel: ARROWES leads the charge
Enter ARROWES, the Aussie company turning risk into innovation. Based in Queensland, ARROWES engineers products that keep workers out of danger zones. Our portfolio includes eSTOP, eSAS, eBOOM, and the Automated Cone Truck (ACT), each designed to remove personnel from direct traffic exposure.
eSTOP® is Australia’s first Type 1 approved portable traffic signal system. Its remote‑controlled lights let workers operate from a safe distance. In Tier 1 trials, it delivered a 93 per cent reduction in near‑misses compared to manual control.
eSAS®, the electronic Speed Awareness Sign, delivers live visual feedback on driver speed. A national trial by Downer in 2019 showed a 24 per cent improvement in speed compliance at worksites.
eBOOM® is a portable boom gate that mounts to a ute or tripod and can be used solo or paired with eSTOP®. It’s remarkably light with only three components, weighing in at just 18 kg, and deployable by one person.
Most eye‑catching is the Automated Cone Truck (ACT). It allows a single operator driving the vehicle to deploy and retrieve cones, avoiding manual handling in live traffic. ARROWES believes it’s a literal lifesaver.
ARROWES’ story is rooted in tragedy and ingenuity. Founded by Ken and CFO Ly Eng Ea, the business expanded from simple arrow boards to cutting‑edge tech after a traffic controller died when a truck hit her in a work zone. More than 100 such controllers have been injured or killed annually.
Why removal of personnel matters
1. Reducing human risk
The numbers don’t lie. With vehicle worksite incidents so common, systems that eliminate human presence in the line of fire save lives, and that’s important.
2. Improving compliance
Studies show drivers comply better with automated systems. eSAS’s 24 per cent compliance boost and other benefits echo findings elsewhere, such as NSW’s automated enforcement yielding behaviour change.
3. Cost savings and efficiency
Each avoided injury saves medical costs, compensation, and lost work time. Safe Work Australia estimates that reducing workplace injuries could boost the economy by $28.6 billion annually, with 185,500 extra full‑time jobs and a 1.3 per cent rise in wages.
4. Aligning with Safe System and Vision Zero goals
Australia’s National Road Safety Strategy and Austroads guidance promote a Safe System approach aimed at zero fatalities by 2050. Technologies that remove hazard exposure are squarely on that path.
In conclusion
Australia’s road safety progress shouldn’t stop at laws and signage. We must cut the hazard at its roots and put workers out of harm’s way. ARROWES’ eSTOP®, eSAS®, eBOOM®, and Automated Cone Truck offer proven, Aussie‑made solutions that slash exposure, reduce injuries, and keep people coming home in one piece.
The stats are stark. And the message is clear: When frontline personnel are removed from danger, real safety happens.
