Leaders have come together to discuss the need for increased safety measures for heavy vehicles
South Australia’s Transport and Infrastructure Minister Stephen Mullighan will seek to make national heavy vehicle roadworthiness a priority as key stakeholders in transport have come together to discuss relevant issues.
Commonwealth and State Ministers met for the bi-annual Transport and Infrastructure Council Meeting this month.
Recent incidents on the South Eastern Freeway in South Australia involving un-roadworthy trucks have highlighted the need for stronger heavy vehicle compliance measures across the country.
“Making sure interstate vehicles using South Australian roads are roadworthy is a high priority for the State Government,” Mullighan says.
“We know there things that we can do to try and improve roadworthiness for South Australian trucks, but given a number of trucks from interstate use the South Eastern Freeway, we need a national approach to solving this problem.
The National Transport Commission and National Heavy Vehicle Regulator have identified reforms which they will soon release nationally.
South Australia has highlighted the need for a stronger national focus on roadworthiness and better driver education and training.
Mullighan says the State Government has introduced a number of new initiatives to improve safety on the freeway.
“We are already moving to increase safety on the South Eastern Freeway,” he says.
“State reforms have seen increased signage to remind truck and bus drivers of the legal requirement to use low gear for the entire descent, and a speed limit reduction to 60 kilometres an hour for trucks and buses, and 90 kilometres an hour for other vehicles on the descent.
“This is in addition to reforms over recent years including the installation of safety cameras at Crafers and near the Mount Osmond Overpass, extra signage on approach to – and better lighting for – both arrester beds, and key signs illuminated day and night.
“It is very important that we now move quickly to put in place national reforms that will continue to improve safety on the freeway – and all of the state’s road network – and reduce the likelihood of further tragic incidents.”