Road train simulator helps provide greater appreciation of the giant rigs
By Ruza Zivkusic-Aftasi | March 22, 2012
The Northern Territory Road Transport Association (NTRTA) is calling for better awareness of road trains as traffic volumes on the Arnhem Highway increase.
Last week’s show of a road train simulator in Jabiru and Darwin, provided by Kalari, has helped those outside the transport industry understand the size of the 52.5 metre-long vehicle.
NTRTA Executive Director Louise Bilato says road trains are set to carry gravel from Mt Burry quarry, which is 130km south of Darwin.
The display has helped road engineers and training people better understand what it is like driving a road train.
“It’s quite complex trying to pull a truck [up] in a relatively short distance,” Bilato says.
“The crashes on the simulator were hilarious to watch. That certainly was a very useful component of it.
“Kalari tries to upskill their existing road operators to be more gentle on the equipment, [such as] using gears rather than breaks and understanding stopping distances.”
She says everyone needs to be aware of the size of road trains and their movement.