The trucking industry calls on Australia's political parties to commit to-
- resource the Australian Transport Safety Bureau to undertake no-blame safety investigations into truck crashes where there are lessons to be learned
- work with the states to improve safety at level crossings that do not have boom gates or lights, including by requiring trains to have flashing beacons and side lights
- build new and upgraded truck rest areas under the $140 million Heavy Vehicle Rest Area initiative over five years rather than ten years.
The next Australian Government should resource the safety experts at the Australian Transport Safety Bureau to investigate serious crashes involving trucks, Australian Trucking Association Chair Mark Parry said today.
Mr Parry was releasing the ATA's 2025 election campaign initiatives to improve safety for truck drivers and everyone who uses our roads.
"The trucking industry's safety has improved markedly over the decades, but the number of crashes involving trucks will remain unacceptable until everyone who uses our roads gets home safely every day," he said.
Mr Parry said the next Australian Government should resource the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) to undertake no-blame safety investigations into crashes involving trucks where there are lessons to be learned.
"The ATSB is Australia's independent transport safety investigator. It investigates aviation, commercial shipping and rail crashes and is recognised as a world leader. We don't recognise the ATSB as the asset it is; we don't take advantage of its expertise to investigate road crashes," he said.
"Crashes involving trucks are investigated by the police, regulators like the NHVR and the coronial system. These investigations may lead to criminal charges or regulatory action. In contrast, ATSB investigations are on a no-blame basis.
"As well as looking at the details of a crash and local conditions, the ATSB looks at corporate risk controls, organisational factors that may have contributed to the crash and external influences such as regulatory requirements and how regulators do their jobs.
"Independent inquiries have repeatedly said that we need to extend no-blame safety investigations to road crashes. We need to start with crashes involving trucks; it needs to happen under the next government."
Mr Parry said the next government should insist on national regulations requiring trains to have flashing beacons and side lights.
"Trucks are more likely to be involved in level crashes than cars, and more than 18,000 of Australia's level crossings are not protected by lights or boom gates. There is no one solution to level crossing crashes, but improving the visibility of trains would be a significant improvement in safety, especially at night," he said.
"There is now a voluntary code of practice to encourage improved train lighting, but it needs to be mandatory. Trucks are required by law to meet minimum lighting standards. Trains should be subject to similar legal requirements."
Mr Parry said the next government should speed up the construction of new and upgraded truck rest areas.
"Building truck rest areas saves lives. The Government is providing $140 million in funding over ten years for the construction of new and upgraded truck rest areas, but it's too slow," he said.
"Our truck drivers need better rest areas now. The next government should complete the delivery of the current rest area program over five years rather than ten.
"If state or local government delays slow the rollout down, the government should increase its contribution for specific projects and consider changing the eligibility criteria to cover approval and preliminary project costs."
The ATA released its industry workforce platform on 14 March and will publish more policy initiatives as the election gets closer.
