Summary

Australia has applied a 60 km/h default urban speed limit since 1974. In 1999, the Australian Transport Council approved the Australian Road Rules with 60 km/h as the default speed limit for built-up areas. From the early 1990s, individual jurisdictions have introduced lower urban speed limits in various trials.

Summary

This is the report of a second national survey of long distance road transport drivers regarding fatigue and its effects on driving. This report examines the extent of changes in awareness and experiences of fatigue since the first survey, undertaken in 1991. The recent survey involved 1007 long distance road transport drivers from all mainland states of Australia. Two methods were used to collect information, a self-administered questionnaire and an interview, and around half of the responses were collected by each method.

Summary

INTRODUCTION

There is increasing interest in level crossing accidents in Australia. As a contribution to research on the subject, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau commissioned Covance Pty Ltd to undertake a literature survey, referencing material published overseas as well as in Australia. The literature survey presented here focuses on published material that explores measures that can be implemented to help prevent level crossing accidents or to improve safety at level crossings.

Summary

Sleepiness is a significant contributor to car crashes and sleepiness related crashes have higher mortality and morbidity than other crashes. Young adult drivers are at particular risk for sleepiness related car crashes. It has been suggested that this is because young adults are typically sleepier than older adults because of chronic sleep loss, and more often drive at times of increased risk of acute sleepiness. This project aimed to determine the relationship between sleep and driving patterns in young adult drivers.

Summary

This publication is a sequel to the ATSB report CR193, "The development of a protective headband for car occupants" (Anderson et al., 2000). In that report, we documented a series of tests of different energy absorbing materials, to ascertain the potential benefit of a protective headband worn by car occupants. The project was initiated after McLean et al. (1997) demonstrated that energy absorbing headwear for car occupants might be effective in reducing the numbers of head injuries sustained by car occupants. McLean et al.

Summary

The Buckle Up Child Car Regional Town Restraint Project designed, implemented and evaluated an intervention targeted at increasing appropriate child car restraint usage in 4-6 year old rural school children. Rewards were given to 298 children for using car restraints over one month, where they were given stickers in the school car parks by the research team and in-class rewards by the class teachers.

Summary

This report examines the possible safety benefits from driving in a manner that results in lower fuel consumption and emissions. It attempts to assess the potential of promoting additional motivations to drive safely—better fuel economy and other environmental outcomes, and reduced running costs.

Summary

This project utilised three-dimensional computer simulation software (MADYMO, TNO, Netherlands) to investigate the effect of roadside crash barrier design on vehicle dynamics and risk of occupant injury. Rigid body models consisting of a vehicle (Ford Taurus) and a longitudinal roadside barrier (concrete barrier) were developed and used to simulate collisions at a range of impact angles. Acceleration data for the impact model was then used in a simulated sled test scenario. A 50%, male Hybrid III dummy was used to evaluate injury parameters.

Summary

Concern about the cost and impact of fatigue in the road transport industry and the effectiveness and relevance of traditional driving hours regulation has made this report of the fatigue expert group especially timely.

The Parliaments of both Australia and New Zealand consider fatigue in the road transport industry important enough to establish committees of inquiry into issues and possible solutions.