NHVR Release Fatigue and Distraction Detection Tech Guide

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has released new good-practice guidance to support industry uptake of rapidly emerging Fatigue and Distraction Detection Technologies (FDDT).

Most FDDTs – such as Seeing Machines’ driver monitoring technology used by leading operators including Ron Finemore Transport (pictured above) – deliver an immediate alert to a driver when it senses potential fatigue or distraction by using in-vehicle cameras that analyse footage, with the aim of delivering better safety outcomes.

Following an NHVR-commissioned safety project involving industry interviews, a set of guidelines providing a starting point on good-practice options including usable templates has been developed.

NHVR Chief Executive Officer Sal Petroccitto says the regulator has listened to industry feedback which highlights the need for greater clarification on the use of FDDTs.

“FDDT has been proven to play an influential role in reducing driver fatigue and distraction – and is a clear demonstration of how industry continues to innovate with safety technologies,” he says.

“We know industry is supportive of FDDT but is also eager for greater guidance on how to effectively implement it and to better understand their regulatory responsibilities in managing FDDT alerts and data.

“The NHVR studies on FDDT continually show the importance of the positive relationship between the company and driver, and having an absolute authority to stop driving as key to improving safety.”

South Australian Road Transport Association Executive Director Steve Shearer says Australia’s roads will be safer by providing operators with the tools and knowledge to effectively manage fatigue and distraction.

“There is little information available to industry on how to effectively use FDDT, which we know saves lives,” he says.

“The benefit of the good practice guidance is it includes sample templates from transport companies using the technology, meaning they have been tested in the real world.

“We can continue to learn a lot about fatigue management from this technology as we get better at identifying and working with drivers to address the signs and cause of fatigue.”

Key features of the FDDT Good Practice Guidance Material:

• An overview of the safety benefits and types of technologies available;
• Practical instructions on how to install, set-up and maintain FDDTs;
• Information and fillable templates on how to meet safety duties under the HVNL; and
• Fatigue and distraction event procedures and processes to reasonably respond to alerts.

The guidance material was prepared in partnership with Professor Drew Dawson, Andrew Higginson and Dr Maddy Sprajcer as part of the NHVR’s commissioned “Fatigue and Distraction Detection Technology (FDDT) – What Good Practice Looks Like” project.

The FDDT Good Practice Guidance Material and Guidance Summary are now available to download.

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