ATA Welcomes More Truck Rest Areas

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Australian Trucking Association

Anyone in the road freight industry will agree that fatigue is one of the greatest issues facing the industry.

Sadly truckies battle fatigue on a daily basis and it is a common cause of crashes involving heavy vehicles especially those travelling long distance. In fact evidence shows that drivers are 4 times more likely to have a fatal crash if they are driving between 10pm and 5am. That is why the Federal Coalition’s commitment to continue building truck rest areas has been welcomed by the Australian Trucking Association and members of the industry.

Statistics prove that fatigue is much more likely to contribute to workplace impairment in truck drivers and professional drivers than drugs or alcohol, which highlights the magnitude of the issue of fatigue.

A lack of truck rest areas was previously identified as a problem for truckies, causing them to continue driving or stop in unsafe areas to rest, either way placing them at risk. Despite the law dictating that drivers take regular rest breaks, many do not or cannot because of a lack of rest areas catering to trucks on specific routes. That is why more truck rest areas are such a positive development for the industry.

After it was announced that the coalition would spend $2.2billion over the next 5 years improving road safety and heavy vehicle safety and productivity programs, the ATA welcomed the decision which they said will go a long way to improving road safety and battling fatigue – one of the biggest killers on our roads.

This excerpt from a post on WeeklyTimesNow.com.au explains

In their road safety policy announcement yesterday, the Leader of The Nationals, Warren Truss, and the Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Roads and Regional Transport, Darren Chester, said the Coalition would, if elected, spend $2.2 billion over five years to continue the Roads to Recovery, Black Spot and Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity programs.

The chief executive of the ATA, Stuart St Clair, said the decision would help truck drivers manage their fatigue and improve road safety.

“Truck drivers are required by law to take regular rest breaks, but there are not enough safe places for them to stop and rest,” Mr St Clair said.

Interestingly the article’s author went on to point out a 2008 review of truck rest areas which revealed that not a single one of Australia’s major motorways fulfilled the national guidelines. In other words none of the major highways had a major rest area every 100 kilometres, a minor rest area every 50 kilometres and small truck parking bay every 30 kilometres as mandated by national guidelines.

The post goes on to state:

“The Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program was established that same year, and has funded the construction or upgrade of hundreds of rest areas.

“The Coalition has made a very good decision to continue the program if it wins office. The rest areas it is funding are helping truck drivers every day. Continuing the program will undoubtedly help prevent accidents caused by fatigue,” Mr St Clair said.

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