Research

Transport Safety Victoria conducts and commissions research to support investigations, educational programs, compliance operations, and evidence-based operational policy.

A function of the Safety Director, under the Transport Integration Act 2010 (Vic), is to 'collect information and data about, and commission and sponsor research into, transport safety matters' (section 173 (1)(i)).

The collection of data and information pertaining to transport and boating safety matters, and the commissioning and sponsoring of related research projects are functions which are integral to the Safety Director's ability to proactively shape its risk management and regulatory strategies.

Research reports are available to download as a PDF and accessible Word document where possible.

Maritime safety reports

Annual boating safety campaign

The Maritime Safety Victoria (MSV) Prepare to Survive: Know the Five campaign launched in the summer of 2018-19.

Calls to action:

Know the weather
Practise getting back on
Carry a distress beacon
Lock in a buddy plan
Wear a lifejacket.

Evaluation: 2019-20 campaign

For the 2019-20 campaign, we built on the messaging with the launch of the Boating Vic website and app.

Although online promotion of the campaign was cut short so MSV could assist in sharing updates around the 2020 bushfire State of Disaster and the COVID-19 pandemic State of Emergency, a survey of 1,137 boaters and 307 paddlers in Victoria found that 96% of boaters and 89% of paddlers agreed the campaign message was important.

Boating safety campaign 2019-20 infographic PDF, 269.5 KB

Evaluation: 2020-21 campaign

Researchers surveyed 1,717 boaters and 409 paddlers, finding that more than 90 per cent in each group acknowledged the Prepare to Survive messages are important.

The 'know the weather’ campaign message was remembered by around 60 per cent. Statistics also show that one in four survey respondents are now using the Boating Vic website and app to assess conditions.

However, the findings also showed:

Only 59% of boaters and 64% of paddlers were aware that they should practise getting back on
While 90% of boaters carry a distress beacon or radio, only 56% of paddlers do
65% of boaters tend to underestimate the inherent risks due to feeling confident and experienced

Boating safety campaign 2020-21 infographic PDF, 308.3 KB

Hospitalisation data analysis 2017 – maritime

In 2017, TSV engaged Monash University Accident Research Centre's Victorian Injury Surveillance Unit to undertake an analysis of the nature, incidence and mechanism of certain transport related injuries to patients presenting to Victorian hospitals.

This data will help us identify those most at risk, and work with them to raise their awareness on how to stay safe.

Maritime

Paddle craft safety research 2016

Given the increase in the frequency and proportion of paddle craft involvement in recreational vessel fatalities and the paucity of evidence on the profile of contributing factors, Maritime Safety Victoria commissioned the Coroners Court of Victoria to conduct an analysis of the medico‐legal death investigation.

A market research study commissioned by MSV found that paddlers thought their activity was low risk and this attitude is at odds with the Coroners findings.

Boating behaviour report 2014

This report details findings of a quantitative and qualitative study which aimed to understand Victorian recreational boaters' behaviour and attitudes regarding safety, waterways and boating infrastructure – the first of its kind based on a survey of registered boat owners derived from registration data.

You may also be interested in our maritime incident reports.

Bus safety reports

Hospitalisation data analysis 2017 – bus

In 2017, Transport Safety Victoria (TSV) engaged Monash University’s Accident Research Centre to undertake an analysis of transport-related injuries.

The Victorian Injury Surveillance Unit looked at the nature, incidence and mechanism of certain transport-related injuries to patients presenting to Victorian hospitals in 2005-2015.

Some key points from the analysis of hospital data on bus-related injuries are:

68.3% of people admitted to hospital were female.
64.4% of those admitted to hospital were aged over 60 years.
Injury rates increased at a rate of around 2.8% each year of the study.

Download the report as a PDF or accessible Word document:

Bus rollaways research 2016

In Victoria, 47 bus rollaways have occurred since 2000 resulting in minor injuries to drivers and passengers, and damage to infrastructure and vehicles. Interstate, bus rollaways have resulted in driver fatalities.

Recognising the risk bus rollaways pose to bus safety, TSV has undertaken a project working with industry to identify ways to eliminate or minimise the risks. This document is the result of that project.

The aim of this document is to assist industry to build its capacity to manage the safety risks arising from bus rollaways.

Incident causal analysis

Identifying trends and proactive safety

While incident causal analysis is not mandatory, it contributes materially to improving bus safety by allowing us to collate and find trends in incidents. We therefore urge all bus operators to analyse incidents and provide the results to TSV.

Publication of incidents and their contributing factors

It is vital that the data gathered during incident analysis is shared among the bus industry to allow everyone to learn from incidents. To facilitate the sharing of data, TSV intends to publish on its website de-identified incidents and their accompanying contributing factors.

You may also be interested in our bus incident reports.