Will I Wake Up?: A presentation on fatigue, showing innovative measures working with road safety partners to address the problem
Keywords: Fatigue
ARSRPE
Submission Date: 2006
Abstract
Fatigue within New Zealand is not readily linked to road fatalities however in the 2005 year alone it was a contributing factor in 39 fatal traffic crashes, resulting in 47 deaths. Coupled with the level of crash injuries, this had a total social cost of about 280 million.
The Central District Police has less urban areas that modify driver behaviour or give the opportunity to rest. It is the gateway that links many major cities in the North Island of New
Zealand. There are a high proportion of crashes through its dissecting State Highway system that inherently draws high speed motorists attempting to make the connection between New Zealand’s largest metropolis, Auckland and its capital city, Wellington as quickly as possible.
State Highway 1 which links these two cities is also the prime arterial route linking both ends
of the North Island with tourist skiing destinations like Mt Ruapehu.
This pilot project was a result of combining the resources of Police and the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) in gathering current data, then formally notifying the Company Manager/Director of an employees driving offence while using a company vehicle, linking this to the employers responsibility under the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 and the “duty of care” provisions.
The process involves filtering for repeat offenders and using Injury Prevention Consultant
visiting risk industries to assist them with driver fatigue programs.
The desired outcomes have included
? identification / reduction in driver fatigue amongst commercial drivers.
? improved awareness of fatigue as a crash factor
? encourage owners/ operators / company executives to ensure meetings, timetables and
other work have significant travel components and appropriate rest periods