SARTA tells coronial inquiry that speed limit on South Eastern Freeway descent should be lowered.
Trucks should be limited to 40km/h on a notorious 8km stretch of the South Eastern Freeway as it approaches Adelaide, the coroner investigating a fatal accident there has heard.
South Australian Road Transport Association (SARTA) executive director Steve Shearer says trucks need to be forced into lower gears to reduce the risks of brake failure.
He says reducing the speed limit from the current 60km/h will add only a small amount of time on to commuting times, but will save many lives over time.
“Truck drivers don’t have a problem with it (lowering the speed limit),” Shearer told deputy coroner Anthony Schapel.
Shearer says car drivers will also need to reduce their speed.
“Some people will be appalled by the idea, it will take (almost) a minute longer to get to work,” he says.
Shearer was speaking at the coronial inquest into the death of James William Venning, who lost control of his semi-trailer during a January journey on the freeway. He was killed when the truck hit a wall at the base of the freeway.
The speed limiting is one of 22 risk reduction strategies that the South Australian Government is considering in response to the August incident in which truck driver James Venning lost his life.
It is, however, not the one most favoured for immediate action.
Regional manager with the SA Transport Department Andrew Excell says the most popular suggestion with stakeholders is improving truck driver education, increasing awareness of the relative benefits in using low gears for speed control, instead of brakes.
A third arrester bed, potentially in the centre of the freeway, has also been canvassed.
The inquest is continuing.