Terrorism Insurance: Do You Need It for Your Property?
When it comes to protecting commercial property, terrorism insurance might not be the first thing on your mind, but it’s an important aspect to consider.
Driver Fatigue: It’s a Worry!
Fatigue is a leading cause of truck accidents. A recent study showed that about half of Australian truckies reported experiencing fatigue.
Despite regulations aimed at managing driving hours, it’s not always possible for drivers to find safe and adequate rest areas. Many rest stops are either full or occupied by non-truck drivers, making it difficult for truckies to take their mandated breaks. Fatigue isn’t just a personal health risk — it’s a danger to everyone on the road.
A world-first study on truckie fatigue found these factors are among those that increase the risk of drowsiness:
- After 15 hour of day driving, if a driver starts their shift before 9am
- After six to eight hours of night driving
- Starting a shift between midnight and 6am
- During the first one or two shifts a driver does and during long-night shift sequences
- When a driver changes his type of shift, such as from an event back to an afternoon or reverts from an afternoon to a morning start
- After more than seven shifts in a row, and
- Where they can only get five hours of sleep between shifts.
Spotlight on Road Conditions and Infrastructure
The state of Australia’s roads – they span more than 817,000kms – is another major concern for truck drivers, particularly since conditions vary wildly. Where there are poorly maintained roads, insufficient rest areas, and a lack of dedicated truck routes these add strain on truckies.
As well, many rural and regional roads are not designed for heavy vehicles, making driving more dangerous, particularly in bad weather. Despite this, the volume of road freight continues to increase with the e-commerce boom fuelling that.
There’s a real need for increased investment in infrastructure, even above the hefty allocations in the current federal budget. including the development of a comprehensive all-weather road network that supports the transport industry.
Challenges in Ensuring Safety
While driver fatigue and poor road conditions are critical issues, there are also systemic problems that make it hard to ensure safety.
Enforcement of safety regulations is often inconsistent, and non-truck drivers often don’t understand how to share the road with heavy vehicles. And those who call out trucking companies for non-compliance can find themselves in the hotseat, as Michael West Independent Media reports.
Proposed Solutions for Enhancing Truck Driver Safety
To improve the safety and wellbeing of truck drivers, several solutions are being implemented or considered this year across the country, including:
- Better driver training and licensing
- A national driver education program and, for motorists, a safety awareness campaign
- Enhanced road safety initiatives
- Technological innovations
- Level crossing safety
- Fatigue management, and
- Health and wellbeing programs for truckies.
Book An Appointment
Submit a Claim
Contact Us