Australia Post drivers hit by other vehicles up 30 per cent this year

More and more Australia Post drivers are being subject to this concerning act, and it’s prompted a plea from the national service.

Posties are being hit and injured on Australian roads 30 per cent more this year.

In the past financial year, 86 postmen and women were injured as a result of a third-party traffic collision.

The drivers are suffering concussions, broken bones, and psychological stress as well as time off work.

“Too many posties are sustaining injuries from being knocked off their vehicle or swerving off the road to avoid more serious incidents from occurring,” Australia Post safety general manager Rod Maule said.

A still image of footage from a crash involving a sedan not giving way to a postie. Picture: Australia Post

The organisation wants the government to allow Australia Post vehicles to be fitted with flashing lights, like garbage trucks and streetsweepers have.

Footage provided by Australia Post shows four instances where the posties are travelling through a roundabout. Vehicles to the postie’s left should give way but do not cede and there is a crash.

Other footage shows vehicles cutting across the delivery drivers, causing the posties to swerve and tip.

In this crash, again the car has hit a postie when they should have given way. Picture: Australia Post

“We’d like to remind drivers that our posties stop frequently and often travel at lower speeds than other vehicles on the road,” Mr Maule said.

“They can sometimes be easily missed since some vehicles like our (electric three-wheeled buggies) and motorcycles are smaller than others.

“Please keep an eye out for the high-vis and stay alert on the roads so we can continue to deliver for all Australians.”

A delivery vehicle after a crash. Picture: Australia Post

Despite cash-strapped Australia Post installing cameras and data-tracking in its vehicles, the number of crashes with third parties is rising.

In the previous financial year, 86 delivery drivers were injured as a result of a third-party crash, up 30 per cent on the year prior.

Most often the cause is drivers not giving way at a roundabout. General give way and stop sign runners, drivers looking at their phones, and driving too close to other vehicles are also common scenarios.