The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has released the Heavy Vehicle Industry Safety Survey 2022 report.
NHVR CEO, Sal Petroccitto during a recent speech at the VTA State Conference 2023, offered attendees a sneak preview as to what the long-anticipated report might contain.
The Heavy Vehicle Industry Safety Survey measures how the industry manages its safety responsibilities and seeks feedback from industry employees, drivers, managers and operators.
According to the latest report, approximately one in three – or 35 per cent – of respondents use the NHVR’s Safety Management Systems (SMS) guidance materials. Of these respondents, 97 to 99 per cent said they are useful.
65 per cent of industry respondents said they have a basic SMS in their business – a two per cent increase from the previous report in 2020.
Meanwhile, organisations with Performance-Based Standards (PBS) vehicles had higher rates of SMS implementation compared to those who do not (70 per cent versus 64 per cent).
NHVR Chief Regulatory, Policy and Standards Officer, David Hourigan, said the safety survey is a vital tool for the NHVR as it seeks to implement initiatives that achieve better heavy vehicle safety outcomes.
“This is the third iteration of the survey and to have almost 6,000 industry participants is very encouraging as it demonstrates the importance industry has for improving safety,” he said.
“The results indicate that since 2020 there have been incremental improvements to safety across the industry, which in turn informs our forward-thinking work program.”
According to the report, overall scores across all items were stronger since 2020, with the biggest increase in the Safety Assurance, Promotion and training and General Business items.
Hourigan said the results demonstrate the ongoing commitment from industry to keep pursuing improved safety outcomes.
“I want to thank everyone who responded to our survey as your feedback will help us shape and deliver key safety initiatives with our industry partners in 2023 and 2024,” he said.
“One area the NHVR has worked tirelessly to deliver on since 2020 is greater awareness and uptake of SMS and we’re encouraged to see an increase in implementation by businesses of this important safety tool.”