VicRoads pledges to do more on roadside facilities, including reviewing its rest area strategy
By Brad Gardner
The Victorian Government has pledged to do more on heavy vehicle roadside facilities throughout the State, including changes to its rest area strategy.
The regional director of VicRoads’ north-eastern regional program, Graham Freestone, says it is vital truck drivers are given places to rest.
He says the department is monitoring rest areas along Victoria’s major freight routes, with VicRoads planning to use the information to assess the adequacy of current facilities.
“We need to review our rest area strategy and take the rising demand of the freight industry and truck drivers into consideration,” Freestone says.
VicRoads will use safety forums being held during July and August to inform the industry on the state of rest areas on routes such as the Hume Freeway.
“Providing safe and well-located rest areas to help manage driver fatigue is a main aim within North East Victoria,” Freestone says.
A spokeswoman for VicRoads says the forums will also cover topics such as fatigue management, drugs and alcohol in the workplace and the latest developments in vehicle safety.
The forums are being held by VicRoads and the Transport Industry Safety Group as part of the Freight 2009 initiative.
Freight 2009, which culminates in Freight Week in September, focuses on productivity, safety and road network improvements.