NTC welcomes new heavy vehicle driver fatigue laws

The National Transport Commission (NTC) welcomed the commencement of new heavy vehicle driver fatigue laws in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. The reform targets the root cause of driver fatigue, rather than simply regulating hours and makes all parties in the supply chain legally responsible for preventing driver fatigue.

NTC chief executive Nick Dimopoulos praised the efforts of industry, unions and governments in preparing for the new laws: “Australia’s transport ministers showed strong leadership in approving this reform, which will deliver significant safety benefits for heavy vehicle drivers and the community.

“Our professional truck and bus drivers will be healthier, better rested and trained in managing fatigue risks, meaning the risk of heavy vehicle crashes is greatly reduced.

“Industry and unions have thrown their support behind the new laws. Their proactive approach to the development of this national reform has been crucial in ensuring we got it right.”

NTC developed an implementation kit for use by governments and industry containing information, compliance tools, a DVD and checklists to help all parties transition smoothly to the new laws.