State-Wide Truck Road Safety Campaign

The Queensland Government is working closely with the trucking industry to improve road safety and protect the lives of Queensland road users.

There have been 43 fatalities involving heavy vehicles up to midnight on Sunday (July 20), compared with 32 in the same period last year.

Transport Minister John Mickel said that it is unacceptable to lose so many lives needlessly.

“The Government is working hard with the industry to find solutions to ensure our roads are safe for all users,” said Mr Mickel.

“We have stepped up our campaign of education and compliance regulation for heavy vehicle drivers and operators right across Queensland.

“We have 170 transport inspectors throughout the State, who, during the financial year 2007-08, conducted 69,620 programmed inspections and undertook nearly 68,000 hours of on-road compliance activity.”

Inspectors are responsible for checking for compliance with all truck safety measures. They have had an increased focus on speed limiter tampering, a dangerous practice that incorrectly sets the speed limiter allowing truck drivers and their employers to flout the law and exceed the speed limit.

Mr Mickel highlighted the fact that it is only a minority of drivers and employers that are breaking the law.

“In the 8 week period between14 April and 8 June 2008 a total of 1335 heavy vehicles were inspected. 92.4 percent of these had their speed limiter set correctly,” said Mr Mickel.

“Of the 7.6 percent that were incorrectly set, most were set for 115km or less, although three vehicles were set in excess of 120km.

“The truck drivers and their employers that are doing the right thing are to be praised. It is only a small minority that are letting us down and putting innocent lives in danger.

“Heavy vehicle transport is a vital industry for Queensland and the Government is committed to ensuring it remains sustainable and safe,” said Mr Mickel.

Media contact : Jane Rowe 07 3237 1125 or 0409 588 302