Fatigue management for commercial vehicle drivers
Driver fatigue is a foreseeable risk for all drivers. For drivers of commercial vehicles it is an occupational hazard which, under Occupational Safety and Health laws, must be managed by a safe system of work.
The Code of Practice on Fatigue Management for Commercial Vehicle Drivers provides guidance on what a safe system should consider. The Code provides guidance to industry, the authorities and the Courts. The Code provides a defence against prosecution and the basis for prosecution.
Driver fatigue is one of the most significant safety hazards facing the road transport industry world wide. Bus and truck crashes are dangerous and costly to all road users, and fatigue is a major contributor.
Fatigue means a gradual loss of alertness which leads to occasional nodding off and then sleep. Fatigue causes drowsy driving. Drowsy drivers are more likely to have a crash by running off the road or having a head-on collision.
The three main causes of drowsy driving are too little sleep, driving when you would normally be asleep and working or being awake for very long hours. Other factors like highway boredom, road conditions and weather compound these major causes.
To prevent fatigue related crashes, these factors need to be managed through correct scheduling practices, training and education. The Code is an important tool in making this accepted industry practice.
Review of the Commercial Driver Fatigue Management Code of Practice
The Code of Practice has been reviewed and a number of key changes to the operating standards have been made.
The key operating standards and components of the Code have also been incorporated into regulation under the Occupational Safety and Health Act. The regulations, which come into effect on 1 July 2003, will improve enforcement of fatigue management and ensure that companies are not able to financially benefit from operating outside accepted industry practice.
The changes to the operating standards reflect a change in emphasis from hours of work to hours of rest. Adequate and timely rest is key to the management of fatigue and safer work practices. At the same time more operational flexibility is allowed for operators and drivers but within constraints.
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