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Pavey engages with trucking industry on safety plan

NSW government initiates discussions with ATA, LBRCA and RFNSW to address safety issue

 

The New South Wales government has pledged to work with the trucking industry to formulate an effective road safety plan for the state.

NSW roads, maritime and freight minister Melinda Pavey says the trucking industry has the expertise, knowledge and understanding to improve safety and productivity for heavy vehicles and, in turn, for all motorists.

“The issue of heavy vehicle safety is one that is being addressed nationally, and all states are working together through forums such as the Transport and Infrastructure Council to address this issue,” Pavey says.

“We are also making sure that safety is a shared responsibility for all parties in the road transport supply chain.

“We all have a responsibility to prevent safety breaches and ensure our roads are safe.

“I am looking forward to continuing these very positive discussions.”

It comes amid news of increase in fatalities and accidents on NSW roads, with the industry calling out for collaborative efforts to improve safety.

Toll MD Michael Byrne, in a recent letter to the prime minister, made several recommendations aimed at improving road safety statistics.

Meanwhile, the Australian Logistics Council said cooperation is the key to solving the problem following the Transport Workers’ Union (TWU’s) attack on the federal government for demolishing the safe rates system.

Today, the Australian Trucking Association (ATA), the Livestock, Bulk and Rural Carriers Association (LBRCA), and Road Freight NSW (RFNSW) welcomed the NSW government’s initiative to address the safety issue.

ATA CEO Ben Maguire says the state government is listening to the industry on safety.

“We have put forward a broad-ranging plan, including better road crash investigation, more consultation on telematics, a focus on building safety features into roads and improvements to both car and truck driver training,” Maguire says.

“We will meet again this week to talk about the truck technology now available.

“We all recognise, though, that the safety discussion needs to include an understanding of what has caused the increase in truck-related fatalities.

“This is now squarely on the agenda.”

LBRCA COO Bec Coleman is pleased the state government is involving the livestock carriers sector to better understand the industry and the problems it faces. 

“On the back of this dialogue we have seen Minister Pavey kick start many safety-focused initiatives, including an increase to the number of drug tests carried out roadside and more funding to the NSW Crashlab to promote safer vehicles,” Coleman says.

RFNSW CEO Simon O’Hara has welcomed the government’s willingness to look at the causes of the increase in multi-vehicle crashes involving trucks.

“Our urban member businesses are especially concerned about multi-vehicle crashes, which are very often not the fault of the truck driver,” O’Hara says.

“These have spiked over the last year, and we need to know why.”

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