Union says enforcement reforms cannot alone solve the bigger issues plaguing the industry
The Transport Workers Union (TWU) has come down on the National Transport Commission (NTC’s) proposal to impose more strict speed limitation rules.
NTC is seeking industry feedback on its Enforcement Approaches for Speeding Heavy Vehicles Discussion Paper, which proposes deeming a speed limiter noncompliant if a heavy vehicle is detected travelling at or above 115 km/h and immediate grounding of heavy vehicles travelling 15 km/h or more over posted or default speed limits.
The union says the NTC proposal is a “band-aid solution” to the underlying issues in the transport sector that push drivers to speed and take risks.
“Enforcement on our roads is important. But to make this industry safer we must address the real issue of why truck drivers are breaching the law in the first place,” TWU national assistant secretary Michael Kaine says.
“So long as transport companies and drivers are under incredible pressure from clients like major retailer Coles to deliver freight cheaper and faster, heavy vehicle driving will remain to be the most lethal job in Australia.”
“The history of enforcement shows that regardless of how many strategies are in place to enforce on-the-road behaviour, if the lethal supply chain pressures are not reduced, there will continue to be breaches.”
The commission’s discussion points have already raised concerns in the industry, with the Australian Logistics Council (ALC) stating that the proposed rules will unnecessarily impose sanctions on operators and penalise other innocent parties.