In moving a motion for the inquiry, Launceston independent MLC Rosemary Armitage said she wanted to set up the inquiry to gather evidence-based and data-driven recommendations to the government.

She said it seemed at present the current approach to road safety was not working well enough.

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Ms Armitage said 300 people were either killed or seriously injured on Tasmanian roads each year.

"Last year, Tasmania failed to meet its national road safety strategy targets," she said.

"In 2011, 24 people lost their lives on our roads while there were 272 serious crashes. In 2020, a year when we had COVID when you would think there would be less cars on our roads, 36 people died and 283 were seriously injured.

"Tasmania has the worst road safety record of any state."

Leader of Government Business in the Legislative Council, Leonie Hiscutt, said the government had a 10-year plan for road safety with a short-term target of fewer than 200 deaths and serious injuries by 2026.

She said the government planned to invest more than $75 million into road safety between 2020 and 2025.

RACT Group chief executive Mark Mugnaioni said in spite of government investment, serious and fatal car crashes remained high.

"We need to ask why and an inquiry will help us find the answers," he said.

Mr Mugnaioni said between 2011 and 2020, there were 321 lives lost on Tasmania's roads.

"We need fresh thinking and new ideas if we are going to create the change our community deserves."

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