The Australasian College of Road Safety (ACRS) is an independent professional road safety organisation. Its latest Journal, published today, looks at the important issue of heavy vehicles on our roads. The Journal explores some of the recent research that has been conducted towards a safer heavy vehicle transport scenario in Australia and elsewhere.
For the foreseeable future, the transport of goods in Australia will rely on the use of heavy vehicles. According to forecasts, the transport task is set on a growth trajectory with the current mining boom and general growth in the Australian economy. This will see many more trucks sharing an increasingly congested road network.
Deaths and injuries from heavy vehicle crashes account for a significant proportion of our road toll resulting in substantial costs, reductions in productivity, and above all an immeasurable impact on families and communities. Research that will lead to safety improvements in the heavy transport sector is important not only for truckies and the transport industry, but for all road users and the nation.
Lori Mooren, Senior Research Fellow at Transport and Road Safety (TARS) at the University of New South Wales, and an executive member of the Sydney Chapter of the ACRS, was guest editor for the August journal. Contributions include articles on heavy vehicle crash statistics, truck crash avoidance, fatigue and sleep disorders, and technologies such as electronic work diaries.