The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) is imploring the entire heavy vehicle industry to take fatigue seriously and drive safely ahead of the 2025 Easter holidays.
Operation Omega II will see the NHVR join police across the country to ensure heavy vehicle drivers are educated about the risks of driving while tired or impaired.
NHVR Chief Operating Officer Paul Salvati said Safety and Compliance Officers in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania would focus on both education and compliance to ensure safer roads this Easter.
"This operation, which also ran during last year's Christmas period, will see the NHVR continue our partnership with police to prevent fatigue-related incidents from occurring," Mr Salvati said.
"From conducting roadside checks and inspecting logbooks, to monitoring driving behaviours and providing driver education, we'll be prioritising the safety of all road users."
Mr Salvati said so far this year, there had been 23 fatal crashes involving heavy vehicles across Australia.
"Every life lost on our roads is a tragedy and entirely preventable," he said.
"Unfortunately, fatigue continues to be one of the biggest issues for the heavy vehicle industry.
"We know from our compliance and education activities that fatigue offences occur at a higher rate during nighttime hours, even with less vehicles on the road, and fatigue-related crashes can have the deadliest outcomes for drivers.
"Managing the risk of fatigue extends beyond just drivers to employers and other parties in the supply chain.
"As part of the NHVR's inform, educate and enforce approach, we want to work with all of industry to increase safety."
Mr Salvati said over busy periods like Easter, drivers faced pressures like tight delivery deadlines, but said they also needed to be cautious of more holiday-goers out and about.
"Busier roads mean it's imperative for all of industry to be cautious and combat the serious risk fatigue can pose," he said.
"Drivers simply cannot operate a heavy vehicle if they're impaired by fatigue, even if within work and rest requirements.
"If a driver feels too tired to work, they're a danger to themselves and other road users."
Heavy vehicle drivers who feel pressured by their employer to drive while fatigued can call the NHVR's Heavy Vehicle Confidential Reporting Hotline on 1800 931 785.
