The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) is seeking expressions of interest for participation in a commissioned safety project to improve the use of Fatigue and Distraction Detection Technologies (FDDT).
NHVR CEO, Sal Petroccitto, said the FDDT safety project will include practical support to heavy vehicle transport businesses to help them implement and use the technologies.
“FDDT is proven to play a positive role in reducing driver fatigue and distraction events by better ensuring drivers are behind the wheel when they are most fit for duty, as well as alerting drivers to potential incidents,” he said.
“We know the heavy vehicle industry and regulatory partners support the safety benefits of FDDT, but they want to see greater guidance and safety management systems to support its use.
“As the safety regulator, the NHVR is committed to partnering with industry to develop an agreed approach to what good practice in the use of FDDT looks like.”
The new project will build on the findings of the NHVR’s 2019 research study which identified the importance of a company response in identifying driver behaviour and trends to better manage safety.
Critical to the project, Petrocitto said, will be the development of practical FDDT event procedures and processes that transport companies can consider implementing to help them respond reasonably to FDDT events.
Run by Dr Drew Dawson and Andrew Higginson who undertook the 2019 FDDT research study, the project will involve a series of interviews and on-site visits as required.
The NHVR is assuring that all data will be treated confidentiality and not be identifiable in analysis as belonging to the company.
The expression of interest details can be found here.
Interested participants can complete the online form by 4 August 2023.