A week-long safety initiative conducted by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) intercepted 3,000 heavy vehicles in an effort to combat driver fatigue during Easter.
This initiative, labelled Operation Omega II, saw 172 fatigue-related offences issued, with 46 of them classified as either critical fatigue breaches, or breaches due to drivers making false and misleading entries in their work diary to hide a fatigue offence.
According to NHVR Chief Operating Officer, Paul Salvati, this figure is proof of the major threat that fatigued driving poses to all motorists on the road – one which is only getting worse.
“This is a concerning figure and shows an increase in the number of breaches of this severity in comparison to the previous Operation Omega, which ran in the lead up to Christmas,” he said.
“Already this year, there have been 60 fatal crashes involving a heavy vehicle across Australia, which is not only tragic, but preventable.
“Fatigue continues to pose one of the most serious safety risks in the heavy vehicle industry and is a known contributor to road trauma – it only takes a momentary lapse in concentration for lives to be lost or forever changed.”
The NHVR’s Safety and Compliance Officers (SCOs) also conducted 426 intercepts each day during Operation Omega II, ensuring drivers both understood how to manage their fatigue and were compliant with the law.
Out of a total 2,985 intercepts conducted throughout the week-long operation, 131 were reported to be non-compliant with fatigue requirements in some way.
“To put it simply, that’s 131 instances where we could have seen potential tragedy occur on our roads, had our SCOs not intervened,” Salvati said.
“The results of Operation Omega II should serve as a wakeup call for those doing the wrong thing by intentionally driving while fatigued.”
Despite the alarming nature of these fatigue figures, Salvati insisted that the positive outcome of the operation was seeing how many operators were implementing appropriate measures to prioritise rest and alertness for drivers.
“The fantastic takeaway is how many professional drivers and companies understand that no freight task is worth more than a human life and we commend them for putting safety first,” he said.
Salvati also shared that SCOs delivered 407 education sessions specifically centred on fatigue and work diaries, accounting for almost 97 hours.
“Throughout Operation Omega II, SCOs took the time to engage with drivers, providing education and raising awareness about the serious risks of driving tired, with the aim of encouraging voluntary compliance with the law,” he said.
“An additional 253 education sessions were provided to drivers on other Heavy Vehicle National Law requirements, such as vehicle standards, loading, and mass.”
During the operation, a number of additional compliance issues were also identified, with mechanical non-compliance proving to be the primary area of concern.
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