When it comes to workplace safety in South Australia, one risk stands out above the rest—vehicles. Whether it’s cars, trucks, or other machinery used on the job, vehicle use is the leading cause of serious injuries and fatalities in the workplace.
And yet, the risks are often underestimated. It doesn’t matter whether your business operates a fleet of trucks, utility vehicles on a construction site, or company cars in the suburbs. The danger is every present.
Vehicle Safety in South Australia
In South Australia, road incidents accounted for nearly half of all work-related deaths between 2019 and 2023. The national figures paint a similar picture. According to Safe Work Australia, 75 of the 200 worker fatalities in 2023 happened on the road.
The good news? These incidents are largely preventable. One of the most effective ways to reduce risk is by implementing strong drug and alcohol management systems. These systems protect your team not just at work, but also in their lives outside of it.
Road Trauma: A Shared Responsibility
Vehicle safety isn’t just a workplace issue—it affects the whole community. Over the past 20 years, South Australia has averaged nearly 100 road deaths and 860 serious injuries each year.
These numbers represent more than statistics. They are people—workers, family members, and friends whose lives were tragically changed or lost.
Many of these accidents involve preventable factors like drug and alcohol impairment.
Between 2017 and 2021:
- On average, 12 drivers and motorcyclists killed in crashes had an illegal blood alcohol concentration (BAC), representing 19% of all fatalities.
- This is a drop from 30% in the 2007–2011 period, but it’s still too high.
- An average of 13 drivers and riders killed (20% of all fatalities) tested positive for drugs—virtually unchanged from the prior 10 years.
- Overall, nearly one in three driver and rider deaths (32%) involved alcohol, drugs, or both.
These figures highlight a grim reality: too many people are driving while impaired, and the consequences are often fatal. However, it also represents an opportunity. If we could eliminate drug and alcohol deaths on our roads, we could reduce fatalities by nearly one-third!
What It Means for Employers
Given the strong link between impairment and road trauma, managing drug and alcohol use must be a key part of your workplace vehicle safety program.
If your business employs people who drive for work—whether that’s transport operators, delivery drivers, forklift operators, or field technicians—you have a responsibility to reduce risk and protect lives.
To help employers do this, SafeWork SA, in partnership with the Department for Infrastructure and Transport, recently released the Workplace Road Safety Guide – A Guide for Employers and Workers.
This practical resource outlines several important safety measures:
- Zero tolerance for not wearing seatbelts
- Disciplinary measures for speeding
- No alcohol use during work hours
- Eliminating mobile phone use while driving
- Promoting good driver behaviour
- Managing fatigue, especially for shift workers and long-distance drivers
This guide is a great place to start—but to truly protect your team, you’ll need to go further by implementing a robust drug and alcohol management strategy.
Take Action with a Drug and Alcohol Management Program
If your business relies on vehicles—whether that’s one or a hundred—these steps can help improve safety and strengthen your workplace culture:
Review and Update Your Policies
Start with a clear, up-to-date drug and alcohol policy. Your policy should:
- State zero tolerance for driving while impaired
- Detail the conditions and types of testing you conduct in your South Australia workplace (e.g. pre-employment, random, post-incident, and for-cause)
- Outline disciplinary measures for breaches
- Include support options such as Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs)
Ensure your policy complies with relevant state and national WHS laws and is clearly communicated to all staff.
Educate and Train Your Team
A policy is only effective if your team understands it. Make sure every employee who drives for work knows:
- The dangers of drug and alcohol impairment
- That some substances can impair performance even the day after use
- The importance of disclosing prescribed medications that might affect their ability to drive
Include this information in both induction and ongoing training.
Implement Drug and Alcohol Testing
Testing isn’t about punishment—it’s about prevention. A strong testing program can identify risks early and support a culture where safety comes first. Consider implementing:
- Pre-employment testing to screen new hires
- Random testing to deter substance use
- Post-incident testing after accidents or near misses
- Reasonable suspicion testing when there’s cause for concern
At Integrity Sampling, we’ve worked with many businesses across South Australia to roll out effective and compliant drug and alcohol testing. We can help assess your risks and develop a program tailored to your workplace.
Lead from the Top
A culture of safety starts with leadership. Business owners, managers, and supervisors must set the tone:
- Never accept impaired driving
- Encourage open conversations around fatigue, mental health, and substance use
- Acknowledge and reward safe behaviour behind the wheel
Every Life Counts
The statistics in this blog may be confronting, but behind every number is a person. Someone’s colleague. Someone’s partner. Someone’s parent.
Whether your team is driving on a rural worksite, through suburban streets, or across regional highways, the risks are real. But so are the solutions.
At Integrity Sampling South Australia, we’re here to help you take action. Our team supports businesses across all industries by:
- Reviewing and strengthening drug and alcohol policies
- Educating employees
- Delivering reliable and compliant testing services
- Helping to build a culture of care, accountability, and safety
Let’s work together to reduce vehicle incidents—on our roads and in our workplaces.
FEATURED IMAGE CAPTION:
In South Australia, nearly 1 in 3 fatal crashes involve drugs, alcohol—or both. That’s not just a road safety issue. It’s a workplace safety issue too with road accidents accounting for around half of all workplace deaths. Credit Ibrahim guetar https://unsplash.com/photos/a-couple-of-trucks-driving-down-a-foggy-road-XjUTgI4Q9lo
