Proposed new laws dealing with safety measures for utilities & tray-top trucks

1/11/99

Transport Minister Murray Criddle today outlined proposed new laws which will make it illegal to ride in the back of utilities and tray-top trucks which are not fitted with special roll-over protective canopies.
He said the government wanted to make people, especially those in rural and regional communities, aware of the need to prepare for the introduction of new laws ahead of their introduction in 13 months' time.
"We want utility and tray-top users to understand what sort of devices they will need to fit to their vehicles if they intend to carry passengers and start planning for this road safety initiative which we believe will have significant community benefits," Mr Criddle said.
"We are setting out to create an awareness of the dangers of riding unprotected on the backs of these vehicles because from January 1, 2001 it will become illegal to do so unless the vehicle is fitted with an approved device.
"We believe the new regulations could prevent as many as 120 serious injuries and save up to eight lives a year on Western Australian roads."
Mr Criddle said results from a similar road safety initiative in the Northern Territory had resulted in a 75 per cent reduction in the number of deaths and serious injury.
The new regulations prevent passengers riding in the open load space of a vehicle on a public road after January 1, 2001 unless it has an approved roll-over protection device.
From January 1, 2006 there will be a total ban on travelling in the open load space of vehicles even if a roll-over protection device is fitted.
"These changes follow widespread consultation with the community and we have tried to give people as much time as possible to adapt to them," Mr Criddle said.
The Minister said riding on the back of utilities and tray-tops was high risk and he urged people to refrain from the practice wherever possible.
"This is all about reducing the road toll and the huge number of injuries and I would ask people to remind themselves of the dangers of being flung from the back of a utility or truck," he said.
"People, wherever possible, should be looking at more suitable vehicles such as a dual-cab utility if they intend to carry passengers."
Media contact: Doug Cunningham on 9321 7333