Almost 3,000 heavy vehicles were intercepted during Operation Omega II, a week-long safety initiative undertaken by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) to combat the dangers of fatigue during Easter.

NHVR Chief Operating Officer Paul Salvati said the NHVR’s road safety operations were crucial to protecting lives on Australia’s roads, especially during high-risk holiday periods such as Easter and Christmas.

“Fatigue continues to pose one of the most serious safety risks in the heavy vehicle industry and is a known contributor to road trauma – it only takes a momentary lapse in concentration for lives to be lost or forever changed,” Mr Salvati said.

“That’s why NHVR Safety and Compliance Officers (SCOs) conducted 426 intercepts each day during Operation Omega II, ensuring drivers both understood how to manage their fatigue and were compliant with the law.

“Of the 2,985 intercepts conducted throughout the week-long safety operation, 131 were found to be non-compliant with fatigue requirements in some way.

“To put it simply, that’s 131 instances where we could have seen potential tragedy occur on our roads, had our SCOs not intervened.”

Mr Salvati said 172 fatigue-related offences were issued during Operation Omega II, with 46 classified as either critical fatigue breaches, or breaches due to drivers making false and misleading entries in their work diary to hide a fatigue offence.

“This is a concerning figure and shows an increase in the number of breaches of this severity in comparison to the previous Operation Omega, which ran in the lead up to Christmas,” he said.

“Already this year, there has been 60 fatal crashes involving a heavy vehicle across Australia, which is not only tragic, but preventable.

“The results of Operation Omega II should serve as a wakeup call for those doing the wrong thing by intentionally driving while fatigued.”

While the figures around fatigue were alarming, Mr Salvati said the positive outcome of the operation was to see many operators are implementing the appropriate measures to prioritise rest and alertness for drivers.

“The fantastic takeaway is how many professional drivers and companies understand that no freight task is worth more than a human life and we commend them for putting safety first.”

He said SCOs also delivered 407 education sessions specifically centred on fatigue and work diaries, accounting for almost 97 hours.

“When drivers are impacted by fatigue, they’re at risk of impaired judgment, slowed reaction times and an increased chance of being involved in a catastrophic collision,” Mr Salvati said.

“Throughout Operation Omega II, SCOs took the time to engage with drivers, providing education and raising awareness about the serious risks of driving tired, with the aim of encouraging voluntary compliance with the law.

“An additional 253 education sessions were provided to drivers on other Heavy Vehicle National Law requirements, such as vehicle standards, loading, and mass.”

During the operation, a number of additional compliance issues were also identified, with mechanical non-compliance proving to be the primary area of concern.

Drivers who feel pressured to drive while fatigued should call the NHVR’s Heavy Vehicle Confidential Reporting Hotline on 1800 931 785.

For more information on fatigue management, visit the NHVR website.