National Road Safety Strategy should emphasise chain of responsibility

The Australian Trucking Association’s (ATA) submission on the draft of the 2011-2020 National Road Safety Strategy (NRSS) has recommended that it emphasise the chain of responsibility.

The ATA claim it should give the planned National Heavy Vehicle Regulator the resources, expertise and authority to take direct carriage of major chain of responsibility investigations.

“The chain of responsibility laws are a vital key to improving the safety of the trucking industry. Chain of responsibility investigations are currently fragmented between the state road enforcement agencies. They don’t have the resources or expertise to investigate national companies for breaches of the law across several states,” ATA Chief Executive Stuart St Clair said.

“As an important safety measure, the National Road Safety Strategy should give the planned National Heavy Vehicle Regulator the resources, expertise and authority to take direct carriage of major chain of responsibility investigations and prosecutions,” he said.

The ATA submission says the strategy should include measures to support the increased use of high productivity vehicles, and calls on governments to provide regulatory incentives for trucking companies to join the TruckSafe safety accreditation program.

Independent statistics show that TruckSafe accredited companies are twice as safe as non-accredited companies.

The ATA said heavy vehicles should not be treated with extreme, unproven or random policy measures. Actions targeting heavy vehicles should be evidence-based and effective, and include encouragement for industry initiatives.

The ATA highlights the following policy targets and measures for stronger emphasis or inclusion in the final NRSS.
• Encourage safer companies through TruckSafe.
• Undertake measures to reduce ‘other driver’ risk and exposure.
• Reduce heavy vehicle exposure and promote the use of higher productivity vehicles.
• Improve compliance along the supply chain by expanding the effective application of the Chain of Responsibility legislation (beyond speeding).
• Target heavy vehicles travelling at inappropriate speed for conditions.
• Manage fatigue risk by building more rest areas and allowing the voluntary use of electronic work diaries.

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