Truckie fell asleep at wheel

The death of a truck driver after he "nodded off" while driving near Palmerston North has prompted a call for rest spots where drivers can make take a nap.

Palmerston North coroner Tim Scott's recommendation was released yesterday after the inquest into the death of Jackson Thomas Tiatoa last month.

On July 14 last year, Mr Tiatoa was driving the return trip of his usual route between Wellington and Hastings when his truck crashed about 4.30am on State Highway 57, near Linton.

The Lower Hutt father of four died from head and spinal injuries when his truck veered off the road and crashed, the post-mortem report said.

Mr Tiatoa usually slept for an hour on a bed in his truck after the four-hour drive to Hastings, Mr Scott said.

"On the particular night of the crash, he was not driving his regular truck.

"I am not aware whether the rental Renault vehicle had a bed configuration in the back of it or not."

Police were unable to establish a reason for the truck leaving the road on a sweeping bend, Mr Scott said.

He said two disconnected shock absorbers and speed were not the cause of the crash.

The "most likely" cause was sleep deprivation as people are not designed to operate at night, Mr Scott said.

"It is a little unusual in that this was day one of a five-day shift, not day four of five.

"It was a time when Jackson was at his freshest."

Research had proven the human body clock slowed down between about 1am and 4am, which was when the accident happened, Mr Scott said.

"I believe that the most likely prime causer of this accident was that Jackson `nodded off', even if only temporarily."

Mr Scott said trucking companies should consider providing basic portable accommodation, like a caravan or hut, for drivers to have a decent rest while goods are being loaded or unloaded.

"Something relatively basic that could hopefully be provided reasonably cheaply and moved about from time-to-time if need be, but which would give a driver a reasonable space to have a rest in a proper bed."

- © Fairfax NZ News