Following the release of some sobering statistics and new research into driver behaviour. truck maker Isuzu says it has underscored the critical importance of driver understanding and appropriate utilisation of onboard safety systems.
According to Isuzu the most recent social impact stats from the Australian Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics (BITRE) reveal the social cost of Australian traffic incidents is estimated to range between $22.2 and $30.3 billion per year, with a base case estimate of $27.0 billion annually.
In real terms, this equates to a 12 per cent annual increase compared to 2006, the year of the last Australian costing study.
The new research highlighted by insurer, AAMI’s, annual Crash Index indicates a worrying trend among motorists further compounding concerns, which the study found sees one in five Australian drivers admit to deliberately switching off safety features in their vehicles, with common complaints being that systems are too sensitive or intrusive.
Simon Humphreys, Isuzu Australia’s head of product management and its chief engineer, said these findings highlight a significant challenge for the broader automotive industry.
“The statistics in this space just aren’t improving and stand as a stark reminder of why we, as an industry OEM, undertake significant research and development into evolving and integrating advanced safety technology into our vehicles,” Humphries said.
“However, AAMI’s research reveals a more dangerous disconnect.
“The most sophisticated safety system in the world is rendered completely useless if it’s switched off or misunderstood by the operator behind the wheel. It’s like having a life jacket but choosing not to wear it.”
Isuzu said that taking into consideration variables such as repair cost, workplace and household loss as well medical related costs, the government data also looked at the incident type, with some unexpected results.
It said that the overwhelming crash type across both metropolitan and regional areas and accounting for a large slice of the total social impact, were crashes where vehicles involved were heading in the same direction and due to their higher incidence, particularly in major cities, they account for $8.7 billion or 32 per cent of total costs.
Simon Humphries emphasised that technology such as Lane Departure Warning (LDW) or Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) Systems, Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) are designed to act as a ‘co-pilot,’ supporting the driver and providing a critical safety net.
“These systems are not a replacement for attentive, skilled driving. They are a supplement. They’re in place to assist in a moment of misjudgement, fatigue, or when reacting to an unpredictable hazard,” he said.
“When a driver disables these systems, they are voluntarily removing that layer of protection for themselves and everyone else on the road.
“As a collective, we need to shift the mindset from seeing these features as ‘nanny systems’ to understanding them as essential, life-saving tools.”
Isuzu says it remains committed to leading the commercial vehicle sector in safety innovation, championing not only the development of new technologies but also the education necessary to ensure they perform their primary function of saving lives.
The brand also says its 2025 model line-up not only complies with mandatory Australian Design Rules with deadlines in 2025, for example ADR 97/00, ADR 35/07 and ADR 80/04), but far exceeds these compliance milestones to put forward what it claims is the safest Japanese-built truck range on Australian roads. 
