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Hannifey wants education focus under safety program

Trucking advocate says National Road Safety Partnership Program should have an education-based focus on sharing the road safely with trucks

By Brad Gardner | September 17, 2012

Trucking advocate Rod Hannifey wants the proposed National Road Safety Partnership Program (NRSPP) to have an education-based focus on sharing the road safely with trucks.

A proposal from the National Transport Commission (NTC), the NRSSP is designed to allow businesses to share their knowledge about road safety to reduce serious injuries and fatalities.

Hannifey says a campaign aimed at increasing public awareness of trucks should be an important aspect of the program.

“It is still the case that a majority of car drivers have never been in a truck and, mostly, not well educated about sharing the road with trucks,” he says.

“Based on statistics showing the majority of fatal crashes between trucks and cars are the fault of the car driver, this confirms the need for this type of education.”

Hannifey has suggested filming a video from inside a truck and using a variation of his ‘Truckies Top Ten Tips’ initiative, which highlights the need to share the road with trucks.

The NTC says a collaborative program could reduce deaths and serious injuries on the road by allowing more Australian businesses to share their knowledge.

“We believe there is a significant opportunity to facilitate knowledge sharing about how to improve road safety in the workplace and to provide recognition for those businesses that do the right thing,” NTC Project Director Dr Jeff Potter says.

He says many businesses already have a positive road safety culture and are keen to share their knowledge and processes.

The NTC has established a steering committee made up of business representatives to guide the development of the program.

“This is an example of how road safety outcomes can be achieved through a collaborative, non-regulatory approach to reform,” Potter says.

The NTC says it plans to publish detailed case studies of businesses that have focused on road safety. It says businesses with a positive road safety culture have prevented fatalities and serious injuries, cut down on fuel use and WorkCover claims and reduced operating costs.

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