Citation

Simmons K. J. Australas. Coll. Road Saf. 2010; 21(4): 27-28.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Australasian College of Road Safety)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

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Abstract

A news article published in the Sydney Morning Herald on 11 July 2010 commented on the increased rate of speeding among heavy vehicles in NSW and the fatal impact this has on the road toll. The article quoted from a report published by the Roads and Traffic Authority of NSW (RTA) detailing that as many as 37.7% of heavy vehicles exceeded the speed limit in 100km/h zones. This was reported as a significant increase from an estimated 28% of heavy vehicles 10 years ago, according to an RTA survey at that time.

Heavy vehicles are defined as those weighing 4.5 tonnes or more and include rigid trucks, articulated vehicles and buses. In 2009, there were around 114,000 heavy vehicles registered in NSW. In addition, thousands more heavy vehicles that are registered outside NSW travel on NSW roads. Some estimates suggest as much as 80% of the national freight task moves within or through NSW.

Heavy vehicles represent about 2.5% of all vehicles registered in NSW, but along with those from interstate, were involved in nearly 6% of all crashes. Sadly, this translates to around 14% of all fatal crashes where at least one person is killed. However, this has decreased from around 22% of fatal crashes in 2003.