Thematic report on serious accidents involving heavy goods vehicles: Framework conditions for ordering goods transport by road
Road traffic report 2020/02 eng
English translation now available. The findings in the thematic investigation show that there is a great potential for improvement relating to whether those ordering transport assignments give due consideration to road traffic safety. The safety level in the road transport sector is influenced by the requirements set by those ordering transport assignments. The AIBN believes it is necessary to increase the safety level in the road transport sector by getting all parties in the transport chain to focus more on traffic safety.
The thematic investigation is based on four serious road traffic accidents involving heavy goods vehicles that were reported to the AIBN in winter 2019, and where road users other than the drivers of the heavy goods vehicles suffered personal injuries (one of them fatal).
The AIBN has investigated the transport assignments the respective heavy goods vehicles had performed or were performing when the accidents took place, and mapped the different parties involved in the transport assignments.
The purpose of the thematic investigation has been to register and assess attitudes to road traffic safety among those ordering transport assignments, as regards the choice of suppliers, the drawing up of contracts, the ordering of transport assignments and follow-up of suppliers. Through this work, the AIBN has examined the framework conditions that those ordering transport assignments have themselves drafted and influenced through the transport booking process.
The AIBN has also looked at overarching framework conditions for ordering goods transport by road, including the industry structure, political, societal and professional guidelines, current laws and regulations, supervision and enforcement, as well as the safety requirements that apply to goods transport in different transport sectors in Norway.
The AIBN finds it a cause for concern that safety requirements relating to goods transport appear to be less stringent for road transport than is the case for other forms of transport, and that the responsibility of those ordering transport assignments is not sufficiently addressed in the regulations.
Based on the findings in the thematic investigation, the AIBN believes it should be possible to further increase the safety level in the road transport sector through the introduction of traffic safety measures relating to regulations, supervision and safety requirements, as well as implementation of relevant industry measures.
Based on the thematic investigation, the AIBN issues a safety recommendation to the industry concerning the implementation and coordination of increased traffic safety work aimed at goods transport by road.
Safety recommendation
Safety recommendation ROAD No 2020/02T
Based on four serious road traffic accidents that occurred in winter 2019, the AIBN has mapped the parties involved in the ordering and performance of the transport assignments carried out by the heavy goods vehicles in question. The thematic investigation has focused in particular on attitudes to, and activities relating to, road traffic safety among the parties ordering transport assignments. The overarching framework conditions for ordering goods transport by road have also been examined. The findings in the investigation underpin that there is a great potential for improvement as regards giving due consideration to road traffic safety both when ordering transport assignments and through overarching framework conditions. Based on the thematic investigation, the AIBN sees a need for all parties in the transport chain to give stronger emphasis to traffic safety work in connection with goods transport by road.
The Accident Investigation Board Norway recommends that NHO Logistikk og Transport (the Norwegian Logistics and Freight Association) initiate and coordinate impact efforts aimed at improving road traffic safety in connection with goods transport by road in Norway.
Facts
| Location | Norway |
| Occurrence date | 01.01.2019 |
| Accident type | Thematic investigation |
| Vehicle type | Lorry, Passenger car, Truck and trailer, Truck and trailer |
| Type of Transportation | Freight transport |
| Accident category | Ulykke m/ kjøretøy over 7500 kg |