Driving Heavy Vehicles Safely - Behaviour Insights and Smart Support Systems

Welcome to the Vision Zero Webinar, where you will learn more about road safety as we dive into heavy vehicle crash characteristics in Malaysia, and uncover key factors such as driver behaviour, fatigue risks, and intelligent support systems that make operations safer and more efficient. 

Malaysia has set an ambitious target: to halve road fatalities by 2030 in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Reaching this goal demands new, data-driven approaches adapted to Malaysia’s specific conditions with tropical weather, varied road quality, and dense traffic patterns that create heightened risks for heavy vehicle operations. 

As a vital part of Malaysia’s logistics system, heavy vehicles ensure the continuous flow of goods across regions. Their scale and operating environment, however, introduce significant safety concerns, from fatigue-related incidents and behavioural risks to more severe crash outcomes and additional pressure on infrastructure. These issues directly influence both public safety and economic efficiency. 

Heavy vehicles play a critical role in transportation, but they also pose unique safety challenges. Sweden has pioneered innovative solutions to address these challenges, starting already in the 1950s with the innovation of the three-pointed seatbelt which is estimated to have saved at least 1 million lives. By combining groundbreaking policies, advanced technologies, and behavioural research under its world-renowned Vision Zero framework, Sweden have become a global leader in road safety. This holistic approach shifts responsibility beyond drivers to include designers, policymakers, and manufacturers, resulting in one of the lowest road fatality rates globally. 

By combining Sweden’s proven Vision Zero approach with Malaysia’s commitment to safer roads, this partnership is paving the way for practical, technology-driven solutions that save lives and improve transport safety nationwide. 

Featured Speakers:  

Ts. Dr. Rizati Hamidun – Director of Road Safety Engineering & Environment Centre (REER) at MIROS

Topic: Heavy Vehicle Crash Characteristics in Malaysia 

Learn about heavy vehicle crash patterns in Malaysia such as injury severity, major collision types, road geometry influence and fatality odd ratios to guide targeted safety improvements.

Dr. Sogol Kharrazi - Senior Research Leader at VTI

Topic: A Review of Over a Decade of Research and Field Tests on Longer Vehicle Combinations in Sweden 
Discover how Sweden’s research and real-world evaluations have supported regulatory approval for longer vehicle combinations on Swedish roads. 

Dr. Anna Anund - Research Director at VTI

Topic: Challenges for Professional Drivers – DMS, Driver Behaviour and Fatigue 
Explore the demands faced by heavy vehicle drivers, focusing on Driver Monitoring Systems (DMS), behavioural patterns, and fatigue-related risks.