RACV Statement – 16 December 2021

Earlier today RACV was convicted and fined $475,000 in the County Court in relation to a fatigue-related fatality involving an RACV roadside assist contractor. RACV pleaded guilty to a single charge of failing to take reasonable care to ensure that persons other than employees were not exposed to risks to their health and safety arising from the conduct of its undertaking.

The health and safety of our employees, everyone engaged to work with us and the Victorians we serve is extremely important to RACV.

RACV expresses deep regret that the incident on 10 March 2018 occurred and that Mr Halls, an employee of Yarra Junction Automotive Repairs, a regional service provider to RACV, was tragically killed while working as an Emergency Roadside Assist Patroller. We send our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of John Halls.

This tragic incident revealed deficiencies in RACV’s approach to the provision of information, training and suggested policies and procedures to our contractors regarding fatigue management. We regret that this situation arose.

As an organisation, we are committed to continually improving our health and safety systems and processes, including our approach to fatigue management.

Since Mr Halls’ tragic death, RACV has taken a leading role in the ongoing development of additional information and resources across all parts of RACV and the wider community regarding fatigue management. This includes the development of detailed information, resources and training on fatigue management and playing an active role supporting the Australian Automobile Association (AAA)’s Road Safety Research Program into the prevention of fatigued driving. RACV is committed to sharing the results and learnings from this work as broadly as possible once concluded.