Report into heavy transport operations welcomed

9/5/96

Transport Minister Eric Charlton said today he welcomed the report of the Select Committee into Heavy Transport Operations in the State.

"The safety measures we have already carried out surpass the recommendations of the report," he said.

"A number of safety initiatives and controls have been introduced and more are planned.

"My whole attitude to the operation of heavy haulage is to improve safety and to reduce the amount of heavy vehicles on the roads."

Mr Charlton said some of the safety measures already in place included:

* flashing amber lights - installed on approaches to selected intersections to provide additional warning and stopping time;

* road works to improve intersections;

* construction of vehicle arrester bed on Greenmount Hill descent to improve emergency facilities;

* improved signs on the eastern approach to Greenmount and the introduction of a requirement that heavy vehicles must stop and check brakes and load before descending;

* $18.52 million to build 72 passing lanes on major trunk routes in WA including four south of Muchea;

* heavy haulage travelling on specific lanes on major freight routes such as Leach Highway;

* establishment of a new heavy haulage unit within the Department of Transport which has seen a reduction in truck overloading and greater consultation with transport industry; and -

* a scheme for more intense examination of heavy vehicles for road worthiness resulting in better and safer trucks.

Mr Charlton said there were also plans to improve Albany Highway at Bedfordale by spending $13 million from the Additional Road Funding Program.

There would be a reduced speed limit for heavy vehicles on Greenmount Hill.

Mr Charlton said that there were strict controls and permit conditions on the operation of road trains which only came into specific metropolitan transport depots from the North.

He said 36.5 metre road trains were not allowed to operate between 7.30 am and 9.30 am or between 3 pm and 6 pm on weekdays which were peak traffic and school start/finish times.

There were Saturday curfews between 9 am and 1 pm and Sunday curfews between 1 pm and 6 pm.

Speed limits were set at 10 kph below the limit, or 60 kph - whichever was the greater.

"All of these safety initiatives have been introduced as a direct result of our concerns with making the operation of heavy haulage in this State more efficient," Mr Charlton said.

The Minister said the numbers of heavy haulage vehicles on the roads involved with road train operations had been halved.

"Heavy haulage vehicles have been taken off suburban streets and there is now a greater emphasis on safety by the industry itself," Mr Charlton said.

"This has also meant reduced transport costs to the community generally which keeps down the price of goods."

Mr Charlton said that long vehicles - 25 metres in length - could only proceed through Bedfordale if unloaded.

"There are many myths about trucks on the road," he said.

"The real issue is the type of goods carried by road rather than the size of the vehicle.

"Most people do not realise that between 1989 and 1993, fatal and serious crashes per vehicle-km involving trucks fell by up to 25 per cent."

Mr Charlton said car drivers caused 68 per cent of truck/car crashes and a Main Roads study of heavy haulage accidents showed that per million vehicle kilometres cars were likely to be involved in twice as many crashes as trucks with one or more trailers.

He said that through the Office of Road Safety a Transport Roadshow would be travelling around the State to educate communities on all aspects of road safety, including heavy haulage operations.

Media contact: Sally Squires 321 7333