A report by the Australian Road Assessment Program (AusRAP) produced for the National Roads and Motorists Association (NRMA) using data from 2010 to 2014 said the territory's Barton and Federal Highways were the safest.

No deaths had been recorded on either road in the ACT, however ten people had been injured in crashes on the Barton and eight on the Federal Highway.

But once data from NSW is included, the Federal Highway is one of the most dangerous, with five deaths and 48 injuries on the road.

The AusRAP report only profiles Australia's highway network so there was no data on Kings Highway, the road most Canberrans would use these holidays to travel to the South Coast.

NRMA local director Kate Lundy said 2016 hadn't been a good year on Australia's road network either but praised a federal commitment to upgrading the Barton Highway.

"If we don't maintain our highways to a safe standard more lives will be lost," Ms Lundy said.

"Indeed, a number of high-profile crashes occurred on the Barton this year causing serious injury."

The federal Coalition government will spend $50 million over four years to expand the lanes on the highway.

Meanwhile, ACT and NSW police said they were launching a new campaign to reduce road trauma on the Kings Highway, targeting speeding and impaired drivers.

Police, emergency services and the state and local government were among the groups that urged Canberrans to take care when travelling during the holidays.