Friday Facts: December 4, 2020
TRUCKSAFE RECEIVES TWO NATIONAL ROAD SAFETY AWARDS
TruckSafe Director Paul Fellows and ATA Safety, Health and Wellbeing Director Melissa Weller accept the National Road Safety Awards from Senator Susan McDonald, Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack, ARSF Founder Russell White and Suncorp's Daniel Wilkinson
TruckSafe has received two National Road Safety Awards, celebrating its strong safety management culture and proactive approach to fleet safety.
Earlier this year the Australian Road Safety Foundation announced TruckSafe as the winner of two National Road Safety Awards: the Corporate Fleet Safety Award and the Founders Award for Outstanding Achievement.
TruckSafe was presented with the awards at a Parliament House ceremony this week, joined by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack.
“There is no other road transport accreditation scheme that is as comprehensive or robust as TruckSafe, and these awards are a wonderful acknowledgement of the quality of our program and the dedication of our members and supporters,” ATA Safety, Health and Wellbeing Director Mellissa Weller said.
Mrs Weller said the awards were a timely reminder of the need for TruckSafe members to have regulatory recognition and access to the same benefits as those in the National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme (NHVAS).
“As the national truck laws are under review, the ATA has strongly advocated that all certified trucking businesses be deemed to comply with the safety duties under the HVNL, and that customers and those in the supply chain be able to rely on a trucking business’s certification as evidence that the business was compliant with its safety duties and obligations.
“This would mean that the customer would be able to focus on meeting its own obligations rather than second guessing the trucking operator’s systems,” she said.
OVERHAUL THE NATIONAL TRUCK LAWS FOR SAFETY AND PRODUCTIVITY
The national truck laws should be overhauled to deliver increased safety and productivity, ATA Chair David Smith said this week.
As the National Transport Commission (NTC) is reviewing the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL), Mr Smith said the new law needed to be comprehensively overhauled to deliver risk-based safety and productivity improvements.
Key recommendations from the ATA include expanding the law to cover any party with influence over heavy vehicle transport activities, as well as:
· Dramatically reducing the penalties for prescriptive offences, especially for truck drivers
· Including voluntary options in the HVNL to enable operators to move away from paper record keeping
· Streamlining the performance based standards (PBS) approval process and developing a PBS technology standard, and
· Amending the HVNL to deliver more consistent roadworthiness assessments and defect notices.
“The current high penalties for minor paperwork errors do not increase safety. They are, instead, a frustrating maze of random hazards for drivers," Mr Smith said. That’s why we are proposing bold initiatives to increase productivity without affecting safety.”
Mr Smith thanked ATA members for their detailed input to the submissions.
“So far, our internal consultation process on the RIS has involved nine workshops with members, two Industry Technical Council working groups and an industry-wide survey of truck drivers that generated 432 responses and a social media reach of more than 46,000. We will consult our members further, as we complete our detailed formal submissions on assurance and accreditation, fatigue, and access.”
DENILIQUIN EXPERIENCES ROAD SAFETY FROM EVERY ANGLE
Kayla and Benny from the SafeT360 at the Deniliquin Driver Education Week
The ATA's road safety exhibition, SafeT360, joined the Deniliquin Driver Education Week this week, putting young road users in a virtual truck driver’s seat to teach them how to share the road safely with trucks.
“The Australian Trucking Association has previously joined the Deniliquin Driver Education Week with earlier versions of its Safety Truck, but this year was the first time students got the SafeT360 experience,” ATA Safety, Health and Wellbeing Director Melissa Weller said.
Mrs Weller said that although young road users in Deniliquin may be more familiar with trucks on the roads than their urban counterparts, there is still a gap in driver education. “Research tells us that young people aged 16-25 years are overrepresented in crashes on our roads, which is why SafeT360 specifically targets this age group through an engaging and interactive experience.
“SafeT360 is a life-saving exhibition that increased young people's understanding of truck blind spots, stopping distances, overtaking procedures, risks associated with distraction and key messages for vulnerable road users.
“As we enter the holiday period, many of us are travelling on the roads to catch up with family and friends. It is crucial that young road users have the tools they need to stay safe and protect themselves and loved ones,” she said.
IN OTHER NEWS
· This week Kayla, Dean and Emily from the ATA team obtained their medium rigid truck licences. Thanks to the team at the Sutton Road Training Centre, the team are now fully-equipped to hop behind the wheel, and have also gained a deeper understanding of the hard work and professionalism that goes in to being a truck driver.
· Industry members are encouraged to share their views on planning for current and future freight needs, as part of the National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy and associated National Action lan. You can take a short online survey, or register for online workshops. Learn more and have your say
· The Victorian Transport Association has honoured outstanding individuals and organisations, with the virtual presentation of the 2020 Australian Freight Industry Awards. These awards are delivered in seven categories including Young Achiever of the Year and Best Practice Safety awards. Meet the winners
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