Technology Can Help Turn the Tide on Road Deaths

At the Road Freight NSW 2025 Conference and Awards, Shannon Kyle, Solutions Specialists Manager at Teletrac Navman, delivered a sobering reminder of the challenges still facing the transport industry.

“NSW has recorded 374 lives lost over the last 12 months, an increase on the previous year,” Kyle said. “In August alone, there were 38 fatalities — 24 more than the same month last year.”

Heavy vehicles remain a key focus. Kyle highlighted that there were 48 heavy vehicle fatalities in NSW in the past year, with 53 lives lost in related incidents. “The upward trend is pretty scary before we get to peak period,” he warned.

But Kyle stressed that technology offers a pathway to safer roads if used effectively. “The ultimate aim of this sort of technology and proactive risk management is to have a lasting effect on these numbers and these outcomes,” he said.

Using Data to Reduce Risk

One area showing strong results is speed management. Kyle explained how telematics data is being used not just to record breaches but to identify hotspots, track trends, and focus attention where it matters most.

“Some fleets, large and small, are averaging just one speed event per vehicle for an entire quarter,” Kyle said. “That’s an amazing result compared to when I was a compliance manager. It shows if we commit to the technology and use it properly, it can deliver real change.”

AI Cameras Changing Driver Behaviour

Beyond telematics, new in-cab camera systems are also making a difference. Kyle pointed to the latest AI-powered IQ camera, which provides real-time feedback to drivers and can prevent incidents before they occur.

“Rather than just record the incident, hopefully we’re changing the behaviour before the incident occurs,” he said. “That’s really the power of an AI camera system.”

For heavy vehicles, multi-camera versions now provide additional protection, with distress buttons positioned closer to drivers and footage that can exonerate them in the event of an incident.

Building a Safer Future

While technology is at the forefront, Kyle also called attention to initiatives like the Inroads program, which supports inclusive recruitment and helps bring new drivers into the industry.

“Programs like this help address the ageing driver workforce and open up the industry to more people,” he said.

Kyle’s message was clear: the industry still has work to do, but with proactive use of technology, data, and innovation, heavy vehicle fleets can play a leading role in making NSW roads safer for drivers and the community.

• 
  HERE Launches AI Platform for Real-World Fleet Decisions
  HERE Technologies has unveiled a new geospatial AI solution called HERE Location Reasoning, designed to improve how artificial intelligence systems make real-world, location-based decisions. The company says the new platform addresses one of the growing challenges for AI and agentic systems as they move beyond answering questions and begin executing tasks in dynamic environments. According
• 
  Solar-Electric Refrigeration Takes Centre Stage
  Protran Solutions used TruckShowX 2026 to demonstrate how solar-electric refrigeration technology could help transport operators reduce emissions and diesel consumption without compromising cold-chain performance. At the event in the Hunter Valley, Protran Solutions showcased the Sunswap Endurance, a fully integrated solar-electric transport refrigeration unit designed to operate without diesel power. The company positioned the technology
• 
  Hills Tankers Looks to AI to Reduce Risk and Downtime in Dangerous Goods Operations
  At Geotab Connect 2026, one of the more practical conversations came from the team at Hills Tankers, a long-established Australian fuel transport operator now exploring how AI-enabled telematics can support safety, compliance and reliability across a demanding national operation. Speaking during the event, Shaun Cavanough, Chief Safety and Compliance Officer at Hills Tankers, described a business that
• 
  Telematics Moves from Optional to Essential in 2026
  For many fleets, telematics was once viewed as a useful add-on — helpful for tracking vehicles or reviewing fuel reports, but not critical to operations. That view is changing rapidly. According to Craig Lee, Executive General Manager – On-Highway at Penske Australia & New Zealand, telematics and driver behaviour monitoring are shifting from “nice to
• 
  Eyes in the cab: balancing safety and surveillance
  In-cabin cameras are one of the best safety tools available to fleet operators, but deployment can be fraught. Zetifi CEO Dan Winson on the decisions that determine how well or badly a roll-out lands.  Deploying fleet cameras isn’t a guarantee they’ll be used. In many cases they’re not. The hardware may be installed and the