ATA laments number fatal heavy vehicle crashes during holiday period and says safety is its top priority
The nation’s peak trucking lobby says road safety is its top priority, as the industry reels from a horror start to the New Year.
The Australian Trucking Association (ATA) has lamented the 70 people who died during the Christmas holiday period and says most of the horrific accidents involved trucks.
This included the accident on December 28 north of Batemans Bay in NSW when a petrol tanker collided with a car, killing the truck driver and three members of the same family in the car.
ATA Chairman Trevor Martyn says the trucking community was devastated by the fatalities.
“We should also spare a thought for those who survived the accidents; who have to carry the burden with them for the rest of their lives,” Martyn says.
“Safety is the ATA’s number one concern and we will renew our fight in 2010 to make Australia’s roads safer for the trucking industry and all motorists.”
Another three occupants of a car were killed on the Newell Highway at Narrandera on January 5 when the car crossed to the wrong side of the road and crashed head on with a truck heading in the other direction.
There were two fatal accidents in two days at Muswellbrook in NSW’s Hunter Valley involving heavy vehicles.
The first accident on January 5 happened when a car crossed the New England Highway south of the town, killing 10 year-old girl.
The second incident occurred when a man was killed when his utility crashed into a truck east of the town.