Brisbane-based truck driver Sonja White, who started the ‘Report The Rock Throwing’ Facebook group, has kicked off a petition calling for harsher rock throwing penalties.
Sonja believes it’s only a matter of time until a driver is killed as a result of rock throwing, a tragedy she hopes to prevent with her petition.
“I do think someone’s going to get killed, there have already been two and we’ve got to do something,” Sonja tells ATN’s sister magazine Owner//Driver.
The petition, Justice For Rock Throwing, calls on government representatives to implement tougher sentencing on juveniles, claiming the majority of people throwing rocks are under 18.
“With the continuous threats on our roads, we, the truck drivers have had enough of being targeted,” Sonja states on the petition page.
“As we would all like to live longer but with what’s been happening lately in some small country towns is becoming increasingly dangerous especially for us, the truck drivers.
“Moree is the worst for this followed by Boggabilla, Brewarrina, Walgett, Bourke, Wilcannia, Peak Hill, Shepparton and many more towns,” the petition claims.
Sonja says she doesn’t know how long she’ll run the petition for, but is aiming for 50,000 signatures before taking action.
“I haven’t decided how long I’ll run it for, but we need everybody to get involved because this isn’t just truck drivers being affected, it’s the whole of Australia.
“We need the support from the police, the support of the trucking industry and the community as well.
“We need politicians to help stop this and bring punishment to the people committing this dangerous act,” Sonja says.
It’s about deterring offenders, Sonja says, justifying her calls for harsher penalties.
“There aren’t any real penalties and what I’m trying to do is actually catch them, regardless of age, and punish them.
“It’s a bit of a hobby for these people; they think it is fun and games.
“If it’s more than just a slap on the wrist, they might think twice about doing it.”
Despite the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) investing $100,000 for 22 eight-metre high solar-powered lights in November last year, Sonja says the issue remains unimproved.
“Apparently not all of the 22 lights are functioning, and while lights and CTTV are good, it isn’t going to stop them,” Sonja says.
“The shrubs are still there so it kind of makes the lights pointless if they can hide.
“There must be a dark area up near the bridge because they stand up there and throw the rocks now – they smashed two truck windscreens recently.”
The ARTC and Moree Police have been contacted for comment.