Inquest into the death of Grace Moulding

Contributing factors

• driver inexperience on unsealed roads
• driver held only learner's licence, not full licence
• no mandatory 4WD training completed
• excessive speed (116 km/h) for road conditions and driver experience
• default speed limit of 110 km/h on unsealed road was too high
• inadequate workplace driving policies and procedures
• informal recruitment without verification of essential driving criteria
• no documented risk assessment for remote driving
• vehicle was unregistered at time of crash
• lack of occupational health and safety management systems

Coroner's recommendations

1. Artists of Ampilatwatja Corporation should amend driving policy to restrict use of work vehicles to employees who have completed a 4WD course
2. Artists of Ampilatwatja Corporation should conduct risk assessment to consider if a maximum speed limit should be included in policies and procedures concerning use of work vehicles
3. Artists of Ampilatwatja Corporation should amend Remote Travel and Work Checklist to include requirement to check roadreport.nt.gov.au prior to remote driving
4. Artists of Ampilatwatja Corporation should adopt communication technology for work vehicles providing means of communication along Sandover Highway length
5. Artists of Ampilatwatja Corporation should adopt technology to monitor driver behaviour and at minimum record driver speed to enforce policies and procedures
6. Desart should review and update recruitment templates to ensure strict driving licence criteria are included whenever remote driving is part of position description
7. Department of Logistics and Infrastructure should ensure comprehensive speed limit review for Sandover Highway is conducted within 12 months, prioritising safety of road users