Truck industry calls for further accident investigation

The Australian Trucking Association (ATA) and National Road Transport Association (NatRoad) have called on the Federal Government to extend the Australian Transport Safety Bureau’s safey investigations to include heavy vehicle crashes. 

In a joint submission tabled today (September 9) with the Joint Select Committee Inquiry into Road Safety, the two representative bodies have called for no-blame, independent road safety investigations to help gain valuable insights into the causes of heavy vehicle accidents, and what measures can be taken to reduce their impact and resulting harm. 

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Vision Zero 

The two bodies say a greater emphasis on heavy vehicle road safety is required as the Government works towards its Vision Zero ambition of eliminating road accident fatalities by 2050. 
 
“This is a move that has already been recommended by both the independent review of the National Road Safety Strategy and by the Productivity Commission,” said ATA CEO, Michael Deegan. 

“As an independent agency, the ATSB can provide valuable insights that can reduce the risk of future accidents and incidents when implemented by industry and government,” he said.  

NatRoad CEO Warren Clark said the submission raised key priorities that should be fast tracked, in particular infrastructure improvements that will improve on-road safety. 

“Road conditions are a causation factor in about 30 per cent of all crashes and is a factor in the severity of 100 per cent of crashes,” Mr Clark said. 

“Road projects that minimise safety risks, upgrade unsafe roads and address gaps in the quality of the road network must be prioritised,” he said. 

Road safety imperative 

Mr Deegan said safety is not sufficiently prioritised in road spending. 

“In 2019 Austroads released new truck rest area guidelines, but they are not linked to funding decisions,” he said. 

“All infrastructure funding projects should be required to apply the Austroads rest area guidelines to the planning, design, and delivery of road infrastructure. 

“The ATA and NatRoad call for transport ministers to agree as soon as possible that the Austroads guidance on this subject should be mandated in new and upgraded road funding proposals.” 

Mr Clark said the submission’s recommendation support the Government’s Vision Zero plan. 

“Taking a safety-focused approach to road infrastructure development will build a solid foundation for achieving Vision Zero and saving Australian lives,” he said. 

Click here to read the ATA and NatRoad submission.