Claims about road trains in metro area disproved

26/9/94

Transport Minister Eric Charlton has disproved claims by the Australasian Sleep Association that accidents on Perth roads could increase dramatically if road trains were allowed into the metropolitan area.

"The association really ought to wake up and assess the facts on their merits and not on emotion," Mr Charlton said.

"The association's contention that there will be greater risk of accidents because long-haul operators will be behind the wheel longer if allowed to run directly into outer metropolitan depots is preposterous and does not correpsond with the facts.

"Based on the livestock road train trial into Midland, in which there have been more than 270 movements without incident, the number of driving hours saved has been 8,000.

"In other words, operators are off the road two hours sooner than if they had to break up and bring in the semi-trailers individually.

"In a full year of operation, that saving is calculated to be 12,000 hours.  This valuable time-saving is achieved by eliminating the need for operators to have to shuttle back and forth from the Apple Street assembly area to bring in each semi-trailer separately."

Mr Charlton said the proposed trial into major transport depots in Bassendean, Bayswater, Kewdale and Welshpool would save operators about 36,000 hours behind the wheel and in the case of the planned fertiliser trial from Bedfordale Hill into Kwinana, 3,000 driving hours per year.

Recent improvements to Great Eastern Highway to enable road trains to extend their run beyond Coolgardie to just east of Northam, delivered big savings in time and money to the industry. About 20 road trains used the route each day, collectively saving drivers 150,000 hours on the road each year and reducing operating costs by more than $8 million.

"Consumers also benefit because transport costs are reflected in prices for consumable goods on the supermarket shelf," Mr Charlton said.

"One South Australian-based company told me its drivers are now saving $1,000 per trip to Perth and they are getting three to five hours more sleep.

"This is a safety positive, not a negative.

"There are other obvious important savings to the community and environment by extending the operations of road trains in a safe manner.  There is less wear and tear on our roads when road funding is a scarce resource because we have fewer heavy trucks on the road, less fuel consumption and lower pollution and noise levels.

"Road trains also operate under strict permit which regulates route travelled, speed and the time of day in which they can operate.

"In the case of the Midland trial, road trains are excluded from operating during peak hour traffic and when schools begin and finish during the day.

"While I acknowledge that the Australasian Sleep Association is expert in the field of fatigue and sleep disorders, it is not in touch with the way the transport industry operates.

"Had it been in touch it would have assessed the situation more accurately."

Media contact:   Dean Roberts 321 7333/Pager 480 9999 (94065)