Truck Driver Wellness Day: Ensuring SA truck drivers have a safe trip

Johannesburg - Heavy commercial trucks account for a disproportionate number of fatal vehicle accidents on the road. According to 2019 statistics from the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), they were involved in 11% of crash fatalities, despite only making up 0.34% of the vehicles on the road.

This highlights the importance of ensuring trucks are roadworthy, not overloaded, and the drivers are healthy and well-rested. SA’s leading general insurer, Santam, and RTMC have teamed up to advocate for driver wellness over the past few years to raise awareness around fatigue and health issues that have a direct impact on truck accidents.

 “Trucks and truck drivers are like the nation’s heartbeat. The goods they transport help keep the country alive. If you need proof of that just look at the problems in the UK as a result of a lack of drivers. That is why it is important that we do our part to keep our drivers healthy – mentally and physically,” said Anton Cornelissen, Head of Heavy Haulage at Santam.

As October Transport Month draws to an end, Santam, in collaboration with the (RTMC) hosted a Truck Driver Wellness Day on Thursday, 28 October at the Heidelberg Weighbridge in Gauteng. The event saw truck drivers receive free health screening from the National Bargaining Council for the Road Freight and Logistics Industry (NBCRFLI). National Traffic Police were on hand to inspect trucks to ensure they are roadworthy and not overloaded.

“We hope that this partnership will continue to drive our road safety messages and have a positive impact in empowering truck drivers to comply with legislation that stipulates maximum work and minimum rest limits to ensure that drivers rest sufficiently during the trips said Thabiso Ndebele, Executive Manager of Road Safety Stakeholder and Marketing at RTMC.

The importance of truck drivers to a country’s economy cannot be overstated. The shortage of properly qualified drivers in countries like the USA and the UK has led to shortages of fuel and other products. In fact, those countries are so desperate for drivers that in some instances, salaries can reach the equivalent of R1 million for people with the right experience. The keyword is experience; the inherent dangers that come with driving heavy vehicles over long distances means that driver wellbeing and the safety of road users are inextricably linked.

Truck drivers work under unique physically demanding conditions which put them at increased risk of a range of chronic health conditions that include diabetes and hypertension. These conditions, coupled with fatigue, can negatively affect reaction time, and significantly increase the risk of collisions. This is why the event placed major emphasis on driver safety.

Cornelissen at Santam explains “As the leader in heavy haulage, Santam encourages fleet operators to prioritise the health and wellness of truck drivers. Through our partnership with the RMTC, we endeavour to increase safety on South African roads. We encourage drivers to get plenty of rest and a minimum of six hours of sleep before a long drive. They should also not drive continuously for more than five hours and follow this up with a break of at least 15 minutes.”

Ndebele concludes, “While the national lockdown has had a positive effect on the number of fatalities on our roads, the lockdowns have lifted and, as we enter peak season, now is the time for heightened vigilance.”