Isuzu Australia Limited (IAL) has stressed that driver understanding and correct use of safety technology is just as important as the technology itself, following the release of concerning statistics and research on driver behaviour.

The latest report from the Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics (BITRE) estimates the social cost of road crashes in Australia at between $22.2 and $30.3 billion annually, with a central estimate of $27 billion.

Compared to 2006 — the year of the previous national cost study — this represents a 12 per cent increase.

Adding to the concern, insurer AAMI’s annual Crash Index revealed that 20 per cent of drivers admit to deliberately disabling their vehicle’s safety systems, most citing frustration with alerts they consider too intrusive or sensitive.

A Growing Societal Challenge

IAL’s Head of Product Management & Chief Engineer, Simon Humphries, said the figures underline a serious challenge for the automotive industry.

“The statistics in this space just aren’t improving and stand as a stark reminder of why we, as an industry OEM, undertake significant research and development into evolving and integrating advanced safety technology into our vehicles,” Mr Humphries said.

“However, AAMI’s research reveals a more dangerous disconnect.

The most sophisticated safety system in the world is rendered completely useless if it’s switched off or misunderstood by the operator behind the wheel. It’s like having a life jacket but choosing not to wear it.”

BITRE’s research also considered variables such as repair costs, household and workplace disruption, and medical expenses. It found rear-end and same-direction crashes were the most significant, making up 32 per cent of all costs, or $8.7 billion, particularly in congested urban areas.

Technology as a Safety Net, Not a Substitute

Mr Humphries stressed that features such as Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) are designed to complement, not replace, skilled driving.

“These systems are not a replacement for attentive, skilled driving. They are a supplement. They’re in place to assist in a moment of misjudgement, fatigue, or when reacting to an unpredictable hazard,” he said.

“When a driver disables these systems, they are voluntarily removing that layer of protection for themselves and everyone else on the road.

As a collective, we need to shift the mindset from seeing these features as ‘nanny systems’ to understanding them as essential, life-saving tools.”

Building Driver Knowledge & Confidence

For Isuzu, improving safety means pairing advanced technology with driver training.

“Our philosophy is that technology and training must go hand-in-hand,” Mr Humphries said.

“Through our dealer network and customer handover training approach, we emphasise the function and benefit of every safety system on our vehicles.

It’s about building confidence so that drivers feel supported by the technology, not annoyed by it. Ultimately, it’s this combination of advanced engineering and informed utilisation that will create a safer environment for all road users.”

Beyond Compliance: Setting New Safety Standards

IAL continues to push beyond mandatory standards, ensuring its trucks deliver the highest levels of safety and innovation in the commercial vehicle sector.

The 2025 Isuzu truck range not only meets the upcoming Australian Design Rule requirements (ADR 97/00, ADR 35/07 and ADR 80/04) but goes well beyond them, positioning the brand’s Japanese-built trucks as some of the safest on Australian roads.


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