The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has launched Operation Omega II, where it will work with police across the country to help educate heavy vehicle drivers about the risks of driving while tired or impaired.
NHVR Chief Operating Officer Paul Salvati said Safety and Compliance Officers in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania would focus on both education and compliance to ensure safer roads this Easter.
“This operation, which also ran during last year’s Christmas period, will see the NHVR continue our partnership with police to prevent fatigue-related incidents from occurring,” Salvati said.
“From conducting roadside checks and inspecting logbooks, to monitoring driving behaviours and providing driver education, we’ll be prioritising the safety of all road users.”
Salvati said so far this year, there had been 23 fatal crashes involving heavy vehicles across Australia.
“Every life lost on our roads is a tragedy and entirely preventable,” he said.
“Unfortunately, fatigue continues to be one of the biggest issues for the heavy vehicle industry.
“We know from our compliance and education activities that fatigue offences occur at a higher rate during nighttime hours, even with less vehicles on the road, and fatigue-related crashes can have the deadliest outcomes for drivers.
“Managing the risk of fatigue extends beyond just drivers to employers and other parties in the supply chain.
“As part of the NHVR’s inform, educate and enforce approach, we want to work with all of industry to increase safety.”
Salvati added that over busy periods like Easter, drivers faced pressures like tight delivery deadlines, but said they also needed to be cautious of more holiday-goers out and about.
“Busier roads mean it’s imperative for all of industry to be cautious and combat the serious risk fatigue can pose,” he said.
“Drivers simply cannot operate a heavy vehicle if they’re impaired by fatigue, even if within work and rest requirements.
“If a driver feels too tired to work, they’re a danger to themselves and other road users.”
Heavy vehicle drivers who feel pressured by their employer to drive while fatigued can call the NHVR’s Heavy Vehicle Confidential Reporting Hotline on 1800 931 785.
Fine but given that government figures show that over 80% of fatal car-truck crashes are caused by the motorist involved, what exactly are police doing about educating motorists about the fatigue risks? Far too many families head off on long car trips in a hurry and the mum/dad driver is a serious fatigue risk.
yes what an unsurprising effort by the nhvr why not check car driver at night also caravanners who work all day and pack up and leave for holiday drives. A lot of h&s people at various tpt companies have no idea on what it involves to operate a truck and the problems you have on the road that add to your fatigue.