Logistics and transport specialist insurer NTI's review of nearly two decades of truck accident data found a vast improvement in the Australian trucking industry's safety performance.
The insurer's 2022 Major Accident Report, taken from its National Truck Accident Research Centre (NTARC), found a 55% increase in the number of trucks on the road and a 51% rise in road freight volumes. However, the rate of severe truck accidents did not follow the trend.
Adam Gibson, the report's author, said the lower rate of severe truck accidents for nearly two decades resulted from tighter government regulation and industry investment in safety, technology, professional development, and leadership.
“We saw, for example, fatigue-related crashes fall by a massive 50% the year after driving hours reforms and standardised logbooks were introduced,” Gibson said. “They dropped from a high of 27.3% in 2008 to a low of 8% in 2020.”
The report also found a significant drop in the number of crashes caused by inappropriate speed.
“In 2009, inappropriate speed was the cause of almost one-third of crashes (31.8%), but encouragingly, that dropped to a record low of 12.5% last year. That's likely related to Chain of Responsibility laws coupled with new safety technologies, including electronic braking systems (EBS) and electronic stability control (ESC),” Gibson said.
Still, the report recommended the need to further address inappropriate speed, as well as driver error and fatigue.
NHVR acting chief regulatory policy and standards officer Ray Hassall commented: “Tragically, safety risks such as driver distraction, speed, inappropriate vehicle positioning, and following distances continue to cause crashes resulting in serious injuries and fatalities on our roads. In the lead up to the busiest season on our roads, I urge everyone to do their part and remember to rest, never speed, and always give heavy vehicles space to keep you safe.”
NTI chief sustainability officer Chris Hogarty said the industry and its supporting bodies have been transformative through working together and shifting to a safer and more sustainable way of operating.
“The Australian transport and logistics industry has made considerable progress nearing the last two decades. We are committed to sustaining the momentum and creating safer conditions for all road users,” he said.
