New VicRoads program that eliminated truck roll-overs in a controlled area now being offered to transport operators across the State
By Samantha Freestone | March 16, 2010
A new VicRoads program that eliminated truck roll-overs in a controlled area is now being offered to transport operators across the State.
The Truck Rollover Prevention Program was launched at the VicRoads headquarters in Kew this morning by Parliamentary Secretary for Roads and Ports Don Nardella, VicRoads Project Manager Chris Stevens and VicRoads Director Don Hogben.
The program originated as an education program to target truck crashes prevalent in the Gippsland area of Victoria, initially targeting industry sectors including logging and dairy.
Prior to this there were 16 roll-over crashes in this area every six months. After the course was implemented this dropped to zero over the same time span.
The program consists of an education video, true-to-life model exercises which explain the gradient at which roll over occur, ‘code of behaviour’ education and power-point presentations.
Stevens says understanding how easily a truck can tip is part of the education.
“At 45 or 50 degrees a prime mover will tip,” he says.
“The typical reaction is that with a full load the tipping point would be about half that, but a truck and trailer will actually tip at 15 degrees. This comes as a shock for many people.
“We are focused on making drivers aware, changing their driving habits. What we noticed was a bunch of ‘p platers’ were changing the way they drive around trucks after completing the program.”
Hogben says the key to the program is awareness.
“This ensures everyone in the chain understands what causes the crashes and how [to prevent them],” he adds.
Initially, courses will be conducted in a ‘train-the-trainer capacity’, whereby companies can then include the program in their driver training programs.
For more information about how to access the program, contact a VicRoads or TSS officer.