When you think of Christmas, things like colourful baubles, filled stockings or shiny presents probably come to mind.
But at the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR), this festive season we have ‘safety’ atop our Christmas list, and we’re making it our goal to ensure all drivers take to the roads with caution and consideration front of mind.
We know the holidays means extra vehicles on Australia’s road network, and everybody – from new to the most experienced drivers – should prioritise safety.
We’re asking motorists to revisit some simple advice, such as not overtaking a turning truck, maintaining a safe distance and avoiding a truck’s blind spots, to help all road users makes it to their destination safely.
In 2024, the NHVR has focussed on delivering our safety campaigns throughout the entire year to target road users at the best opportunities.
Our ongoing We All Need Space campaign, which seeks to educate light vehicle drivers on how to drive smarter around trucks, provides tips to help motorists understand how they can contribute to a safer holiday season.
For light vehicle drivers, heading out and about around Christmas and the New Year period can often mean travelling on roads these drivers might not often frequent – particularly when it comes to highways or rural areas.
We All Need Space has information and advice dedicated to helping Aussies be safer throughout the festive season, and all road users are encouraged to refresh their knowledge around heavy vehicle safety.
This December, our safety and compliance officers have also been working alongside police in participating jurisdictions to target truck driver fatigue.
Operation Omega has run across New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania, with hundreds of officers on the ground conducting inspections and ensuring heavy vehicle drivers are complying with their work and rest requirements.
Sadly, this year has seen more than 120 fatal crashes involving heavy vehicles across Australia and the loss of 135 lives.
With the road toll already far too high and more families and holidaymakers on the road, it’s critical truck drivers focus on managing their fatigue – which means resting when necessary, taking adequate meal breaks and looking after themselves.
From January to October this year, the NHVR recorded more than 3,000 fatigue-related offences across Australia’s heavy vehicle sector, including drivers exceeding their permitted work hours or failing to record work and rest hours.
This is a concerning figure, demonstrating that fatigue unfortunately remains as one of the deadliest risks on our roads.
In partnership with police, Operation Omega has seen our NHVR officers increasing their number of patrols at identified crash-risk areas, particularly during ‘high fatigue’ hours.
Officers have conducted roadside checks, inspected logbooks and monitored driving behaviours to identify and prevent fatigue-related incidents occurring.
Even Santa Claus has been warned to stop for milk and cookie breaks when he takes to his sleigh this Christmas Eve.
Every single driver plays a role in keeping Australia’s road network safe. And at the NHVR, we believe the best gift we can ALL give this Christmas is being cautious behind the wheel.
- Michelle Tayler is the NHVR’s Acting Chief Operations Officer.