Rod Hannifey highlights a lack of rest areas on the pacific and calls for feedback.
I have again had drivers complain of the lack of rest areas on the Pacific Highway. Yes, it is a nice road now, but with all the towns being bypassed, roadwork sites taking more spaces away and the growing number of trucks, where are we all supposed to park?
Ten years ago I wrote a detailed list of issues for most of the major eastern highways and said at the time there were a shortage of rest areas on the Pacific north of Coffs Harbour, and that when the upgrading went ahead, there must be a change-over facility included. As you can all see, that was not well received and not acted upon.
We only waited 30 years for Tarcutta, so how long will we have to wait for the Pacific? Road authorities want us to act safe, comply with their rules, manage our fatigue on their roads and fine us when we don’t yet expect someone else to provide facilities.
We are not alone with this problem. Over in the UK drivers have to pay up to 30 pounds or more to use truck stops. Some do not even provide shower facilities for this cost.
Where do you suggest we need truck bays on the Pacific, or where do you want them? And what about a change-over facility, where and how big?