The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) is reminding heavy vehicle drivers to follow work and rest requirements ahead of a campaign to reduce fatigue related crashes on national roads.
The campaign, which runs from 18-23 September across NSW, is part of the NHVR’s regulatory strategy to inform, educate and enforce – whether via on-road compliance or industry engagement.
In the past year there have been 48 fatalities from heavy vehicle crashes in NSW, with approximately 65 per cent of fatal crashes occurring outside the metropolitan area.
Operation Drive Time will see NHVR Safety and Compliance Officers focus on heavy vehicle driver fatigue, work diary and heavy vehicle speed compliance for all fatigue regulated heavy vehicles across NSW.
NHVR Director of Operations Central Region Brett Patterson said heavy vehicle driver fatigue was one of the three biggest killers.
“As part of our inform, educate and enforce approach we are working with industry to raise better awareness of the extreme risk that fatigue presents,” Mr Patterson said.
“Our aim is to have a strong engagement and education presence – from formal events to random roadside inspections – with a focus on promoting safe industry behavior,” Mr Patterson said.
“With the road toll spiking in almost every state and territory over the past 12 months, the safety of all drivers on the road is our number one priority.”
Mr Patterson said the NHVR had a strong focus on educating heavy vehicle drivers on work diary requirements however, where the NHVR identifies a fatigue safety risk, appropriate compliance measures will be applied.
“During the past nine months, over 1,400 hours of roadside education has been undertaken on work diaries with heavy vehicle drivers,” Mr Patterson said.
“If we’re to reduce fatigue related incidences in heavy vehicle drivers on Australian roads, then operations which focus on drivers carrying their work diaries is critical.”
NHVR is committed to educating heavy vehicle drivers on the main causes of fatigue, and wants drivers to know some of the main signs can include:
- A lack of alertness
- Inability to concentrate
- Drowsiness, falling asleep or micro-sleeps
- Difficulty keeping your eyes open, excessive head nodding or yawning
- Blurred vision
- Near miss or incident
- Not keeping in a single lane
- Not maintaining a constant speed
