New Heavy Vehicle Industry Report Reveals 30 Per Cent Drop In Serious Crashes Involving Inattentive or Distracted Drivers

The number of major truck crashes involving inattentive or distracted drivers on Australian roads has fallen by 32 per cent in the past 12 months, according to the 2026 National Truck Accident Research Centre (NTARC) Major Incident Investigation Report.

The new report found several positive safety trends including “notable reductions” in driver fatigue (56.9 per cent) and in failure to give way (60.8 per cent). 

“In a positive development, the inattention/distraction incident rate is declining - from 25.4 incidents per 10,000 heavy vehicles in 2023 to 17.0 in 2025, a 33.1 per cent decrease,” the report found. 

“While the overall rate remains a concern, this downward trend may indicate early signs of progress in addressing this key risk area.”

The report, developed in partnership by Australia's leading specialist transport and insurance provider, NTI, with the National Road Safety Partnership Program (NRSPP), and the Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC), also found: 

• Major loss claims exceeding $50,000 fell 22.3 per cent in 2025.
• Human factor-related incidents fell 17.6 per cent in 2025, to 67.6 incidents per 10,000 heavy vehicles. 
• Inattention/distraction remained the leading human factor, accounting for 13.8 per cent of all major incidents in 2025. While these incidents generally trend upward in recent years, these crashes fell 32 per cent to 17 incidents per 10,000 heavy vehicles. 
• Nearly two-thirds (63.5 per cent) of inattention/distraction crashes involved a single vehicle. 
• Geographically, inattention/distraction crashes were slightly under-represented in major cities (36.8 per cent) relative to their overall crash share (40 per cent) and slightly over-represented in inner regional areas (27.3 per cent).
• Articulated combinations had the highest inattention/distraction crash rate at 24.2 per 10,000 vehicles, with crashes most common in outer regional areas and major cities. This reflects their greater exposure to long-haul driving conditions, and in major cities, possibly due to the prevalence of environmental distractions, the high density of vulnerable road users, and frequent stopping. 
• Fatigue-related incidents fell 56.9 per cent, from 5.8 to 2.5 per 10,000 vehicles, while failure-to-give-way incidents fell 60.8 per cent and inappropriate vehicle positioning fell 8.9 per cent. 

NTI's Transport Research Manager Adam Gibson said that understanding the causes of serious heavy vehicle incidents allowed organisations to focus safety efforts where “they will have the greatest impact”.

“The NTARC report is a powerful resource to inform strategies to address safety challenges facing Australia’s heavy vehicle sector,” Mr Gibson said. 

“The decline in some key human factor risks shows the value of continued focus on these issues, while it remains critical that road safety interventions and initiatives continue to target these hazards, particularly inattention/distraction, given their continued prevalence and potential for severe consequences.”

NTI’s Chief Executive Officer Janelle Greene said the NTARC report helped take the “guesswork” out of improving driver wellbeing and road safety.

“This vital research provides the transport sector and decisionmakers with the practical insights needed to help save lives,” Ms Greene said.

“The 2026 findings show that progress is being made in some areas of human factor risk, while also highlighting where further work is needed.”

“The sustained focus on human factors in major crash events such as inattentive or distracted drivers demonstrates the importance of the work being done across the industry, from driver training and safety education to systemic and behavioural interventions.”

“The decrease in heavy vehicle incidents involving inattentive or distracted drivers provides a positive indication that these efforts are making a difference,” she said.

Australian Trucking Association Chief Executive Officer Mathew Munro said the NTARC report – which breaks data down to each State and Territory - was essential for “driving change” to help the sector reduce heavy vehicle crash frequency and severity.

“This important research delivers clear and timely evidence that helps us better understand why major crashes happen, and how they are trending over time,” Mr Munro said.

“Developing a strong safety culture right across the industry is critical, and the findings show the importance of continuing the work already being led by industry and government, from tailored education and awareness campaigns to policy and technology innovations.”

View the full 2026 NTARC Major Incident Investigation Report out now.

About NTARC

Building on the work of the past two decades, the 2026 Major Incident Investigation Report provides the most in-depth analysis of heavy vehicle crashes in Australia. It is presented through a ground-breaking collaborative partnership established by National Transport Insurance (NTI), with the National Road Safety Partnership Program (NRSPP), and the Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC), known as NTARC. 

Now in its third year, the NTARC partnership continues to demonstrate the value of NTI’s industry leadership in sharing de-identified claims data with an independent third party. As the dataset grows in depth, diversity and quality, it is providing an increasingly robust evidence base to better understand key hazards, shape targeted interventions, enrich research and inform policy across the heavy vehicle industry.

(NOTE: The acronym NTARC is pronounced Nuh-TAR-SEE).

2026 NTI Limited. This Media Release contains general information only and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. NTI makes no representations or warranties as to the accuracy, currency, completeness or reliability of the information and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, accepts no liability for any loss, damage or injury arising from the use of, or reliance on, the information in this media release. National Transport Insurance is administered on behalf of the insurers by its manager NTI Limited ABN 84 000 746 109 AFSL 237246.