Growing calls advocate for the outlawing or stricter regulation of bullbars in Australia, as pedestrian deaths reach an 18-year high. Associate Professor Milad Haghani of the University of Melbourne has emphasized the destructive potential of bullbars in pedestrian collisions, citing evidence suggesting their ban could significantly reduce fatalities and serious injuries.
Bullbar Function and Urban Use
Bullbars are frames mounted on the front of vehicles, made from rigid or semi-rigid materials. Originally designed for rural drivers to protect against animal strikes, their prevalence has increased in urban areas, where they are sometimes seen as a "status symbol." An Adelaide study from 2008 indicated that nearly half of 4WDs and utes were fitted with bullbars, compared to two percent of regular passenger cars. Steel bullbars are noted for being particularly destructive.
Current regulations for bullbars are based on design standards, but these are not applied retrospectively, making enforcement challenging.
Rising Road Trauma and Proposed Solutions
Australia's total road deaths surpassed 1,300 in 2025, marking the fifth consecutive year of growth in road trauma. While driver and passenger fatalities have largely plateaued, pedestrian deaths reached 197 in 2025, the highest since 2007. Cyclist deaths also rose significantly.
Haghani suggests that further regulating bullbars could quickly reduce these fatalities. He refers to a UK study estimating that banning traditional rigid bullbars could reduce pedestrian deaths by about six percent and serious injuries by approximately 21 percent among pedestrians and two-wheeler riders. Potential solutions include banning bullbars for vehicles registered to metropolitan addresses without a genuine reason, or a complete ban.
Pedestrian Advocate's Stance
Harold Scruby, chief executive of the Pedestrian Council of Australia, supports a comprehensive ban on bullbars, arguing that rural residents also drive into towns, posing a risk. He advocates for Australia to adopt stricter European legislation. Scruby highlights that bullbars compromise a vehicle's crumple zones, which are designed to absorb collision impact. This interference can negatively affect the deployment of airbags and seatbelts, increasing risk to vehicle occupants in collisions with rigid objects. He states that bullbars may offer negligible protection against animal strikes while significantly increasing damage to the vehicle and risk to occupants and other road users in more substantial collisions.