STATE transport minister Mark Bailey has unveiled the Queensland government’s Heavy Vehicle Safety Action Plan 2019-21.
According to the minister, during the next 10 years, the volume of freight moving across Queensland is tipped to grow more than 20%.
Crashes involving heavy vehicles can have more serious consequences and while there has been a general decline in fatal crashes involving heavy vehicles in Queensland during the last five years, this decline failed to continue in 2018.
“Heavy vehicles play a vital role in driving our economy and connecting essential goods, services and jobs to communities throughout Queensland. Simply put, without trucks Australia stops,” Mr Bailey said.
Developed in consultation with the Queensland Trucking Association, National Heavy Vehicle Regulator and Queensland Police Service, the plan identifies 36 heavy vehicle safety interventions targeting safer roads, vehicles, speeds and people.
“We refuse to accept road trauma as an inevitable part of using our roads and this plan is our commitment to working with the heavy vehicle industry and communities to reduce the road toll,” Mr Bailey said.
Queensland Trucking Association CEO Gary Mahon said they were pleased to work with the Department on this Action Plan and contribute to priority areas of investment in road infrastructure, in particular in bridges to enable increased access for high productivity vehicles.
“Delivering freight in a safe and efficient manner is crucial to the road freight, the drivers and the people driving around heavy vehicles on our roads,” Mr Mahon said.
