The presence of ever-bigger trucks on the State’s highways continues to grow, and questions about the safety of these long-haul monoliths sharing the roads with cars carrying families are being raised after a series of horrific accidents across regional NSW.
And NRMA motoring and services director, Graham Blight, believes it’s a situation that can only get worse, with truck numbers at about 100,000 projected to double by 2020, and triple by 2050.
He said motorists needed to drive more carefully and be aware of vehicles around them.
“Drivers of all vehicles need to be aware that trucks come in different shapes and sizes," he said.
“Trucks put food on our supermarket shelves, transport vital supplies, and are responsible for three-quarters of Australia’s freight carrying – all drivers need to be educated on how to share the road with them.”
Despite continued efforts to improve safety and reduce accidents, statistics show that while the number of fatal accidents involving articulated trucks, such as semi-trailers, has fallen, fatal crashes involving rigid trucks rose in the year to last June.
There were 131 deaths involving articulated trucks in that period, down from 169 in the previous financial year.
Fatal crashes involving rigid trucks had climbed from 85 in 2007-08 to 88 in 2008-09.
Australian Trucking Association chairman, Trevor Martyn, said while the figures for articulated trucks had improved, governments, police and the industry needed to go beyond blaming drivers and calling on them to show personal responsibility.
Drivers would always make mistakes, regardless of penalties and advertising campaigns, he said.
“Instead we need to build roads and systems around drivers to help reduce the number of mistakes they make, and minimise the consequences of accidents when they occur,” he said.
Robert Cavangah, Inverell, has been in the trucking industry for 26 years, running Cavanagh’s Transport, and the immediate past president of the Livestock and Bulk Carriers Association said many motorists needed to pay more attention to the road.
“Plan your trip, take frequent breaks and be aware of what’s going on around you,” he said.
Mr Cavanagh said motorists also needed to be more aware of trucks, with overtaking and stopping times areas of particular concern.
“People in cars have no idea of the stopping distance of trucks,” he said.
“A lot of people underestimate the time to overtake a B-double.
“People don’t give themselves enough time or vision.”
Mr Cavanagh said people were getting worse at sharing the road and traffic had increased.
He said there needed to be a government injection of funds to improve infrastructure, such as dual carriageways on the Pacific Highway, overtaking lanes on the New England Highway and improved maintenance of rural roads.
The NRMA gives motorists tips on how improve road safety, including allowing more time when planning trips and being more courteous to other drivers.
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