Wednesday, 1 July 2026
Austroads has brought together industry insight and international evidence to document current practice and inform the development of guidance for the use of truck‑mounted attenuators in planned temporary traffic management and incident response activities across Australia and New Zealand.
Truck‑mounted attenuators are used to protect road workers and road users from vehicle collisions. By cushioning vehicles that enter the work area, they significantly reduce the severity of crashes in work zones and incident sites.
Drawing on extensive stakeholder consultation and a detailed review of existing literature, the research found that guidance for truck‑mounted attenuators is inconsistent and often limited. There is also a wide range of applications across different road environments, and between planned works and incident response, which makes it harder to apply attenuators consistently.
“We also heard from industry that approaches vary significantly between jurisdictions. These findings highlight the need for more practical, accessible information to support decision-making,” said Austroads Road Safety and Design Program Manager Michael Nieuwesteeg. “We have already commenced work on the development of dedicated national guidance informed by these insights.
By examining effectiveness, design, operation, training and emerging technology, the Austroads analysis identified the elements that most influence safety in practice such as traffic speed, visibility, worksite layout, attenuator positioning and operator capability. Eight key areas are explored in detail: products and devices, effectiveness, design, operation, psychological safety, training, fleet management and technology.
Building on this analysis, the research sets out a clear pathway for improvement, including 10 high‑level recommendations and 34 detailed actions across the key areas. These include establishing a dedicated section within the Austroads Guide to Temporary Traffic Management (AGTTM) focused on truck‑mounted attenuators for both planned and incident‑based activities.
“This gives us a clearer, more consistent approach to how attenuators are used across different scenarios. It sets the foundation for a stronger risk‑based approach – helping protect road workers and road users, while making operations more effective and efficient,” said Michael.
Download Use of Truck Mounted Attenuators in Temporary Traffic Management and Incident Response.