The ATA says transport ministers should reconsider the parts of the exposure draft package that would limit the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator’s (NHVR) ability to set the work and rest hours for drivers working under advanced fatigue management systems.
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The limits would require the NHVR to restrict the operations of 24 trucking businesses, who operate safely and productively every day, and more than 480 drivers would be affected also, meaning they would have to spend more time away from home to do the same work.
Well known sleep scientist, Professor Drew Dawson says in a letter to the NTC that the proposed changes appeared to significantly reduce the opportunity for operators to increase flexibility and safety with an approved accreditation system.
“There is no published data that justifies this choice or indicates that doing so will likely improve safety,” he says.
“In my view, the opposite is likely to be true. That is, there is considerable potential to reduce safety and operational flexibility.”
The NHVR should be able to set the work and rest hours and split rest rules for the businesses and drivers who work under these advanced systems, often with the use of fatigue detection technology, argues the ATA submission.
ATA says if this recommendation is not adopted, ministers should specify a fatigue risk management standard for the regulator to follow, rather than setting arbitrary limits in the regulations.
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