Crisafulli Government sounds the horn for heavy vehicle road safety
- New road safety campaign launched today in partnership with the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator.
- The Crisafulli Government is focused on delivering Queensland roads that are reliable, efficient, productive, and safe.
- The number of crashes involving heavy vehicles has increased by 27 per cent since 2020.
The Crisafulli Government is delivering on its commitment to making Queensland roads safer, joining the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator to launch a new road safety campaign today.
Minister for Transport and Main Roads Brent Mickelberg joined representatives from the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator to launch the 'A Truckie Knows', which highlights the importance of safety for truck drivers and their vital role in upholding road safety.
The 2024 National Truck Accident Research Centre report reveals the number of crashes involving heavy vehicles has increased by 27 per cent since 2020.
In 2024, Queensland experienced the highest number of road fatalities in 15 years, with 303 lives lost.
Under the former Labor Government, Queensland's road network dangerously fell into ruin, and infrastructure projects were never finished on time and on budget.
The Crisafulli Government is delivering better roads for Queenslanders and has already re-established the Bruce Highway Advisory Council which is meeting again next month.
The Crisafulli Government has also restored an 80:20 funding agreement with the Federal Government for the Bruce Highway and secured a $9 billion dollar package for safety upgrades as part of that deal.
Minister for Transport and Main Roads Brent Mickelberg said the Crisafulli Government is delivering A Fresh Start for Queensland and is committed to ensuring safety was a priority for all drivers.
"From the Gulf to the border, truckies undertake one of our most demanding and important jobs – delivering our State's goods safely, securely, and on time, while playing a key role in keeping our highways safe," Mr Mickelberg said.
"One of the most important elements of road safety is giving every vehicle the space it needs. As the campaign calls out, we can all influence how we interact with other road users.
"Unlike the former Labor Government, the Crisafulli Government is focused on ensuring Queensland's roads are reliable, efficient, productive, and safe.
"This is especially important for building resilience along our freight corridors, crucial to the flow of essential goods around the State.
"We have delivered on our commitment to reinstate the Bruce Highway Advisory Council which meets again on March 19, and the Crisafulli Government has restored an 80:20 funding agreement with the Federal Government and secured a $9 billion package for safety upgrades for the Bruce Highway."
National Heavy Vehicle Regulator Executive Director Michelle Tayler said as part of a 'A Truckie Knows' campaign the regulator was reminding all road users about the importance of respect for other drivers as well as the risk of speed and tailgating.
"There are truck drivers on Australia's roads who have seen first-hand the full spectrum of driver behaviour," Ms Tayler said.
"When you're covering hundreds of thousands of kilometres of road, you learn important lessons like respect being a two-way street, leaving space for other drivers to make mistakes and that speeding doesn't get you there faster.
"'A Truckie Knows' is about highlighting our truck drivers and the critical job they do and asking them to share this wisdom with their peers."
Truck driver Robert Topp, who appears in the campaign, said he was proud to voice his experiences from over two decades of driving Queensland roads for work and joined the Crisafulli Government and NHVR calling on all truck drivers to share the road safely.
"We all know in theory how to make the roads as safe as possible, but this campaign is about making sure safe driving behavior is always front of mind and reinforcing the message of respect," Mr Topp said.
