The National Truck Accident Research Centre’s (NTARC) Major Incident Investigation Report 2025 indicates a decline in the number of major heavy vehicle incidents attributed to two human factors.
According to the report, there has been a decrease in heavy vehicle crashes caused by driver inattention and distraction by 1.6 per cent from 2023 to 2024, along with in appropriate speeds by 7.6 per cent from the same period.
Despite these decreases, Monash University Accident Research Centre representative, Dr Jasmine Proud, said driver inattention and distraction, and inappropriate speeding, still remained contributing factors to crashes.
“Inattention and distraction accounted for 17.9 per cent of all major incidents in 2024, a fall of 1.6 per cent on the previous year,” she said.
“These are most commonly single-vehicle incidents, indicating this issue is one the transport industry is best placed to address.”
Proud also cited inadequate following distance as the second most common cause of human factor crashes in 2024, with 80 per cent occurring in major cities.
National Transport Insurance (NTI) CEO, Janelle Greene, said the purpose of the NTARC report is to highlight opportunities where action can be taken to improve safety outcomes.
This year’s report sees data further broken down to a state and territory level for the first time, allowing for more targeted action.
“Continuing to drive systemic and behavioural change remains central to reducing human factor-related incidents and improving safety for all road users,” she said.
“Encouragingly, a range of industry-led and government-supported programs are already targeting these issues, from tailored education and awareness campaigns to resource packs, toolbox talks and workshops, through to policy and technology innovations.”
Green stressed the research’s conclusions that heavy vehicle drivers have one of the most dangerous occupations in Australia, due to high unpredictability in the workplace caused by road conditions, environmental factors and more.
In fatal truck and car crashes, heavy vehicles were found to be not at fault in 87.5 per cent of cases.
Additionally, Green commented on the timeliness of the report’s release in an effort to promote safe change in the industry.
“The report has deliberately been released during October as Safe Work Month,” she said.
“Heavy vehicle drivers deserve a safe work environment free from the risk of death or serious injury. Industry and government are working together to make change.
“The NTARC Partnership is committed to continuing to support heavy vehicle road safety research to better understand the unique hazards of the sector and how they can be appropriately managed to better protect the drivers that keep Australia moving.”
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