Police Operation: Heavy Vehicle Driver Fatigue Targeted

For release 27 April 2012

Heavy Vehicle Driver Fatigue Targeted As Part Of Police Operation
Every year throughout May, police across Australia and New Zealand participate in Operation AUSTRANS – a collaborative multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional enforcement operation to target fatigue, drug use and other road safety issues among the heavy vehicle road transport sector.

CEO of the Australia New Zealand Policing Advisory Agency (ANZPAA), Jon White said that the operation focuses on the heavy vehicle industry, targeting offences including speeding, driver fatigue and impairment, vehicle registration and load offences in areas that carry higher volumes of heavy vehicle traffic.

Research from the Australian Transport Council and the New Zealand Ministry of Transport show that heavy vehicles account for 18 per cent of all road fatalities equating to 250 deaths in Australia and 65 deaths in New Zealand every year[1].

"When a heavy vehicle is involved in an accident the outcome is never good. Heavy vehicles can weigh up to 65 tonnes and when they collide with another smaller vehicle, such as a car or motorbike – the results can be catastrophic,” said Mr White.

Mr White said that the one of the biggest contributing factors in road accidents involving heavy vehicles was driver fatigue and police would be focusing on this in particular while ensuring all truck drivers are obeying the road rules during May.

“While most heavy vehicle drivers and operators take driver safety seriously – some drivers are required to cover long distances within tight time frames. Police will be taking a particular interest in enforcing the road rules but more importantly, they will take appropriate action to prevent heavy vehicle drivers suspected of suffering fatigue from endangering other road users,” said Mr White.

AUSTRANS has run for over 20 years and includes participating agencies from policing, transport and safety authorities across Australia and New Zealand. Figures for the past three years can be viewed here: http://www.anzpaa.orgau/current-initiatives/operation-austrans.

[1] Australian Transport Council. c2010. National Road Safety Strategy 2011-2020. Canberra, ACT: Australian Transport Council. http://www.atcouncil.gov.au/documents/files/NRSS_2011_2020_15Aug11.pdf
Ministry of Transport. c2009. Safer journeys: New Zealand’s road safety strategy 2010–2020. Wellington: Ministry of Transport. http://www.transport.govt.nz/saferjourneys/Documents/SaferJourneyStrategy.pdf

Notes:
Every year throughout May, police across Australia and New Zealand participate in Operation AUSTRANS – a collaborative multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional enforcement operation to target road safety issues amongst the heavy vehicle road transport sector including fatigue, speed and drug use.
To find out more information on AUSTRANS please visit http://www.anzpaa.org.au/current-initiatives/operation-austrans
For road safety statistics please go to http://www.anzpaa.org.au/current-initiatives/operation-crossroads/road-policing-statistics

About Australia New Zealand Policing Advisory Agency (ANZPAA)
Established in October 2007, Australia New Zealand Policing Advisory Agency (ANZPAA) is a joint initiative of the Australian and New Zealand Police Ministers and Commissioners.
ANZPAA provides strategic policy and research advice and secretariat services on cross jurisdictional policing initiatives to help achieve policing excellence and enhance community safety throughout Australia and New Zealand. ANZPAA is a non operational policing agency.

Participating Agencies
Operation AUSTRANS involves a range of police, road, transport and safety authorities throughout Australia and New Zealand. These include ACT Policing, New South Wales Police Force, New Zealand Police, Northern Territory Police, Queensland Police Service, South Australia Police, Tasmania Police, Victoria Police and Western Australia Police. Road, Transport and Safety Agencies include the Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure (DTEI) SA, VicRoads, Roads and Traffic Authority NSW, Main Roads WA, Transport and Main Roads QLD, Workplace Health and Safety Qld, Safework SA, Worksafe Victoria and Worksafe WA and the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA).

ENDS

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