Scania and ARSF Partner to Promote Road Safety in Australia

Scania Australia has announced a new partnership with the Australian Road Safety Foundation (ARSF), reinforcing its commitment to making Australian roads safer for all users. This collaboration aims to amplify road safety awareness and educate both heavy vehicle operators and other road users on best practices for safer interactions.

As part of this partnership, Scania will sponsor a new annual road safety award, specifically focused on improving safety in the heavy commercial vehicle sector. The award will be presented at the ARSF’s annual event at Parliament House in Canberra, recognising programs and initiatives that enhance safety standards across the industry.

Scania’s Dedication to Safety

For Scania, safety is a fundamental principle. The company’s Managing Director for Australia, Manfred Streit, emphasised that safety is embedded in everything Scania does, from vehicle design to workshop practices.

“Safety is our first choice at Scania. Everything we do, from designing our trucks and buses to the way we act in our company-owned workshops, is focused on promoting safe outcomes and avoiding injury,” Streit said.

Scania has long been a leader in heavy vehicle safety, being the first truck manufacturer in Australia to make side curtain anti-roll-over airbags standard on all truck doors since 2018. Additionally, Scania vehicles are equipped with a suite of advanced safety technologies, including:

• Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) – Helping to prevent collisions by automatically applying the brakes if an obstacle is detected.
• Advanced Cruise Control (ACC) – Maintaining safe following distances and adjusting speed accordingly.
• Lane Departure Warning (LDW) – Alerting drivers if they unintentionally drift out of their lane.
• Blind Spot Warning – Enhancing visibility to prevent accidents when changing lanes.
• Collision Warning Systems – Detecting potential hazards and warning the driver.
• Vulnerable Road User (VRU) Detection – Identifying pedestrians and cyclists in the truck’s vicinity.

The integration of dual radars in Scania’s latest trucks and buses enhances the capabilities of these Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), reinforcing the brand’s leadership in safety.

“Our Scania side airbags can contribute substantially to reducing injury or fatalities when a truck rolls over. In addition, Scania trucks come well-equipped with active and passive safety systems, starting with an all-steel crash-tested cabin,” Streit explained.

Educating All Road Users on Heavy Vehicle Safety

One of the key goals of the partnership with ARSF is to extend road safety awareness beyond professional drivers to the broader public. Passenger car drivers, in particular, often underestimate the stopping distances and space requirements of heavy vehicles, leading to dangerous situations.

“Trucks and buses are heavy vehicles and require more space, time, and braking effort to come to a standstill. This is why heavy vehicle drivers leave a good deal of space between themselves and the cars in front of their vehicle. This isn’t an invitation for a car driver in a hurry to dive into this space,” Streit warned.

By raising awareness about how to drive safely around trucks and buses, Scania and ARSF hope to reduce the risk of preventable collisions.

Addressing the Toll of Road Trauma

Australia records approximately 1,300 road fatalities annually, with many more individuals suffering serious injuries. Scania’s new partnership with ARSF aims to contribute meaningfully to reducing this toll through education, industry leadership, and proactive safety initiatives.

ARSF Founder and Chair, Russell White, emphasised the importance of collaboration between industry and road safety organisations.

“Heavy vehicles are essential to our transport network, and increasing awareness of how all road users can safely interact with trucks and buses is crucial to making our roads safer for everyone,” White said.

He praised Scania’s role in promoting a culture of safety, noting that the company’s investment in safety technologies and education would help shift driving behaviours for the better.

“This partnership not only amplifies vital road safety messaging but will also drive safety-first initiatives within the heavy vehicle industry – helping to inspire innovation and leadership in this space.”

Industry Leadership in Safety

Scania’s commitment to safety extends beyond its partnership with ARSF. The company has consistently led the way in integrating cutting-edge safety technologies into its vehicles. The focus is not only on protecting truck and bus drivers but also on ensuring the safety of other road users, including cyclists, pedestrians, and passenger vehicle occupants.

Scania’s efforts align with the broader industry push towards Vision Zero – a long-term goal of eliminating road fatalities and serious injuries. The company’s investment in safety-first technologies, combined with its advocacy efforts, underscores its leadership role in the heavy vehicle sector.

“We look forward to a fruitful relationship with ARSF and hope we can in a meaningful way help to reduce the Australian road death toll as well as serious injuries incurred due to heavy vehicle accidents. 1300 annual road fatalities are too many,” Streit concluded.

A Shared Responsibility for Road Safety

With this new partnership, Scania and ARSF are calling on all road users to play their part in making Australian roads safer. Whether through improved vehicle technologies, better driver education, or increased awareness of how to interact safely with heavy vehicles, everyone has a role to play.

The introduction of the new annual road safety award for heavy vehicles will provide much-needed recognition for industry leaders and programs that prioritise safety, encouraging innovation and continuous improvement.

For Scania, safety is not just a feature – it is a core value that guides everything the company does. Through this partnership, Scania and ARSF are set to drive meaningful change in the heavy vehicle sector and beyond, ensuring that all road users can travel with greater confidence and security.