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The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) is urging heavy vehicle drivers and operators to urgently refocus on core safety practices following a concerning spike in truck crashes and rollovers along the Eyre Highway in recent weeks.
With the Christmas freight season ramping up, the NHVR along with key South Australia and Western Australia industry bodies are warning the combination of tighter deadlines, increased pressure on drivers and a major influx of holidaymakers is creating a perfect storm on one of Australia’s most demanding freight routes.
NHVR Acting On-Road Operations Executive Director Steve Miller said the rise in incidents is a stark reminder that even the most experienced drivers are not immune to fatigue, distraction or mechanical failures - particularly during the end-of-year rush.
“This is traditionally the most intense period for the freight task, and we know drivers and operators are working incredibly hard to keep goods moving,” Mr Miller said.
“But no load and no deadline is worth risking your life for. The recent spike in crashes on the Eyre Highway shows just how quickly things can go wrong if fatigue sets in, if a mechanical issue goes unnoticed, or if you’re forced to push beyond safe limits.”
Mr Miller said that as traffic swells with holiday travellers, truck drivers are facing more unpredictable conditions, more interactions with light vehicles and more pressure to stay alert for longer.
“We’re asking drivers to slow down, plan their trips properly, rest before fatigue hits and take the time to carry out thorough pre-departure and roadside checks,” he said.
“A few extra minutes spent checking tyres, brakes, restraints and coupling systems can be the difference between a safe arrival and a rollover.”
He said operators must also take responsibility by ensuring vehicles are well-maintained, scheduling remains realistic and drivers are never pressured to make up lost time.
South Australian Road Transport Association (SARTA)’s Steve Shearer strongly supported the NHRV’s comments, saying “the vast bulk of the industry works hard and safely, but for the roads to be safe for all road users, every truck operator and every truck driver must focus on safety as the top priority”.
“This is especially important during the peak season, because all those extra trucks and cars on the Eyre Highway greatly increase the risk of incidents and more serious ones at that,” he said.
“There is no justification for cutting corners on safety and compliance just to get the Christmas freight through. If you do, the chances are you won’t get the freight through at all.
“At this time of the year it’s especially important that HV drivers not let themselves get frustrated by the extra holidaying motorists and extra trucks on the road. It is far better to lose a bit of time, than your own or somebody else’s life.”
Western Australian road transport and logistics peak industry body Western Roads Federation also backed in the safety messaging, with Chief Executive Cam Dumesny saying it “fully supports NHVR’s warning and safety calls for the Eyre Highway.”
“Families want you home safe, and that is far more important than on time deliveries,” he said.
The NHVR will continue to monitor activity along the Eyre Highway and work closely with state and local enforcement teams to support safer operations in the lead-up to Christmas.