Drug use - drivers of heavy vehicles

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The use of stimulants by truck drivers to combat fatigue is fairly common. Surveys and roadside tests indicate that about one in five drivers use stimulants on at least some trips, although it seems their use has reduced since the early 1990s. Causes of concern include the sudden loss of alertness as stimulants wear off, the effects of long term use on the health of drivers and their over-involvement in fatal road crashes. Stimulants The drugs used include: over-the-counter medications prescription medications illegal stimulants, particularly methamphetamine - known as ‘speed’.

Use of other psychoactive drugs by Australian truck drivers in conjunction with driving is quite rare and their drink-driving involvement is substantially lower than for other drivers.

In contrast to most other forms of drug use by drivers, truck drivers take stimulants with the specific intention of improving their alertness and driving performance, and avoiding crashes. They also use them to cope with extremely demanding work schedules. However, there are now major concerns about the sudden loss of alertness as the stimulant wears off in a tired driver and the long-term health effects of sustained or excessive use.

Heavy vehicle crashes
In 2003 research into Australian truck drivers killed in road crashes found:

• 32 of 139 truck drivers killed in road crashes (23 %) had used some form of stimulant
• 22 (16 %) had used only stimulants, without alcohol or other drugs
• these drivers were more likely to be responsible for their crash than truck drivers who had not used alcohol or drugs.

Current plans
Current efforts to reduce truck crashes focus on:

• tackling the cause of the problem by reducing driver fatigue, rather than detecting and deterring the use of stimulants or other drugs
• proposing new ‘chain of responsibility’ laws which will hold anyone liable if they recklessly or negligently contribute to a driver’s fatigue or drug taking by actions such as making unreasonable demands.

Other important information
New Victorian legislation will make it possible to detect and penalise drivers who have used any quantity of methamphetamine.

For more information on driving hours regulations refer to the Transitional Fatigue Management Scheme.

More information can also be found at The National Transport Commission’s Heavy Vehicle Driver Fatigue Policy Proposal.

Links
Compliance and Enforcement