Fatigue and inappropriate speed for the prevailing conditions caused more than half of serious truck accidents recorded by truck insurer National Transport Insurance (NTI) during 2005.

Industry and Customer Affairs Manager Owen Driscoll says NTI’s National Centre of Truck Accident Research investigated 404 crash incidents with damage totalling $47.4 million.

He says driver fatigue is an issue, and assistance must be given to drivers who strive to balance a safe work environment with a tough job that every Australian relies on.

“For the sake of road safety, government agencies must take action regarding the shortage and inaccessibility of rest areas,” he said.

Conventional thinking that fatigue is due to excessive time at the wheel is challenged by the study. About 63% of claims occurred within 500km from the point of departure, thus highlighting the need to monitor fitness for duty at the start of a journey.

In other findings, Tuesday was the worst day for accidents, with 18% of losses, and March and April were the worst months.

In 75% of cases, no other vehicles were involved. As found in earlier studies, NSW was the worst state, with 35.9% of serious crashes, and the Pacific Highway in NSW again recorded the most serious truck accidents.