Description
A Light Vehicle (LV) travelling below the 40km/h speed limit in a regional town was struck by a 3rd-party LV that failed to give way at an intersection. The side impact caused the LV to tip onto its side. Unsecured items inside the vehicle cabin (1.8 kg fire extinguisher; 2.8 kg PSV valve) posed a line of fire risk during the incident.
Emergency responders were activated by the vehicle duress alert. No injuries were sustained.
Why?
3rd-party LV failed to give way at an intersection.
Lessons
- Take the time before commencing any journey to secure loose objects, or find alternate means of transport if they cannot be safely secured.
- Regularly review available data (e.g. IVMS violations, incident data) to identify hot spots. Communicate known hot spots to drivers and Journey Planners.
- Ensure Journey Management processes involve work planning to minimise Vehicle Kilometres Travelled (VKT).
Could this happen to you?
- What checks do you conduct prior to starting a journey? Do you check that all loose objects in the cabin are secured?
- Do you have a fire extinguisher in your vehicle? Is it secured?
- Are there any driving incident hot spots where you drive? How do you find out about them? Does your Journey Plan avoid them?
IOGP Life-Saving Rules
- Take action to secure loose objects.
- Wear a seatbelt.