The NHVR is urging heavy vehicle drivers to keep their diary handy when pulling into the busy heavy vehicle safety station
The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) says it is reminding heavy vehicle drivers passing through the Marulan Heavy Vehicle Safety Station (HVSS) in New South Wales to carry their National Written Work Diary (WWD) in its latest campaign which kicks off on Sunday, June 4.
The NHVR explains that the operation comes as recent data shows over 120 offences recorded in the past few months at Marulan have resulted in penalty infringements issued to drivers for not carrying their work diary.
The regulator says, when used correctly, work diaries contain evidence of a driver’s work and rest hours and can help to ensure that drivers meet their safety and fatigue management obligations in accordance with the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL).
NHVR director of operations central region, Brett Patterson, says the results from Marulan HVSS are alarming and additional measures will be in place from this week in a bid to urge drivers and operators to do the right thing.
“The current penalty notice for not keeping a work diary is $711. If a driver is not able to produce a work diary without a reasonable excuse, under the Heavy Vehicle National Law our officers may require the driver to immediately stop work and not commence again for a stated period of up to 24 hours,” Patterson says.
“Whilst most heavy vehicle drivers we intercept are doing the right thing by completing their work diary and complying with applicable work and rest times, this recent data from Marulan HVSS is concerning.”
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The NHVR says it has a strong focus on educating heavy vehicle drivers on work diary requirements. It points to undertaking over 1400 hours of roadside education during the past nine months with heavy vehicle drivers and their work diaries.
Patterson adds that this latest campaign, planned from June 4 to June 10, won’t be the only one tackling the issue of drivers not carrying their work diary.
“If we’re to reduce fatigue related incidences in heavy vehicle drivers on Australian roads, then targeted operations which focus on drivers carrying their work diaries is critical.”
“With the road toll spiking in almost every state and territory over the past 12 months, the safety of all drivers on the road is our number one priority,” Patterson says.
The NHVR advises that more information on work diaries can be found by searching National Work Diary on www.nhvr.gov.au website.