Comment sought on roadworthiness reforms

The National Transport Commission has unveiled four packages of potential options to improve the roadworthiness of Australian heavy vehicles

Authorities have taken another step towards ushering in reforms to raise the general level of heavy vehicle roadworthiness in this country, with the National Transport Commission releasing today (January 27) a Draft Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement containing four packages of potential options.

The NTC is seeking public comment on the proposed changes until Monday, March 23, ahead of its report and recommendations to transport ministers in July.

Developed within the National Heavy Vehicle Roadworthiness Program, a collaborative review and reform program undertaken by the NTC and the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator, the proposed changes target "potential changes to inspection processes and procedures, education and training, greater capability to target the highest risks, scheduled inspections, accreditation schemes, and possible changes to chain of responsibility laws."

The CEO of the NTC, Paul Retter, has urged interested parties to have their say before recommendations are made to government.

"Heavy vehicles will always be an important part of Australia's economy," he said.

"Our challenge is to make them as safe as possible. The safety of all road users must be our primary consideration.

"By improving heavy vehicle roadworthiness we will be able to reduce the pain of road trauma, increase the productivity of truck fleets and also reduce traffic congestion caused by truck breakdowns."

Mr Retter said he hoped the options unveiled by the NTC would provoke plenty of comment.

"People should bear in mind that none of these packages represent final decisions but are instead designed to encourage feedback from stakeholders on areas of possible reform," he said.

"Anyone making a submission should include evidence where possible, to ensure any changes best reflect the needs of Australia’s heavy vehicle industry, other road users and the Australian public."

The four basic packages of options span a variety of changes and predicted outcomes. Option 1 essentially maintains the status quo but will see the uptake of national heavy vehicle roadworthiness standards and a uniform method of assessing a heavy vehicle's mechanical conditions. It would also see the "continuation of the existing state-based variations in roadworthiness compliance and enforcement approaches".

Option 2 comprises a package of largely informational changes, including reviewing the Heavy Vehicle Inspection Manual, developing harmonised education and training for inspection officers, operators and drivers, and creating new codes of practice and guidelines. These measures would also be incorporated into Options 3 and 4.

Option 3 would see the Heavy Vehicle National Law amended to allow the NHVR to focus inspections on nominated heavy vehicles and classes of heavy vehicles, after having gained ministerial approval.

This could mean the NVHR could focus on, say, dangerous goods vehicles of a certain minimum age. Other changes would include improvements to the NHVAS and adding a new element to Chain of Responsibility legislation to encompass key parties in relation to vehicle maintenance. The NTC says the prime benefit of Option 3 lies in the ability to direct greater resources towards "higher risk" vehicles, while reducing the number of inspections of low-risk vehicles.

In addition to Option 3's NHVAS changes, Option 4 would see inspections for all heavy vehicles carried out at set intervals. CoR changes would ensure that all reasonable steps are taken to ensure a heavy vehicle is maintained in a roadworthy condition, while formal roadworthiness procedures and standardised inspections would be rolled out.

The NTC says the costs of implementing Option 4 "were assessed as clearly exceeding the potential benefits", leading it to declare: "It is the least-preferred option of those assessed in this RIS".

Click here to read the Heavy Vehicle Roadworthiness Program's Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement.

Comment sought on roadworthiness reforms

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