Driver health and speed camera identification initiatives on the way
The Heavy Vehicle Safety Around Ports Project in Queensland is making progress, with anti-fatigue technology testing leading into a driver health initiative and speed monitoring.
The project, which broke cover in December, is being driven by the Queensland Trucking Association (QTA) and the Port of Brisbane and involves about 60 drivers from six port-focused trucking companies.
The first stage has seen the drivers using SmartCap Technology’s LifeBand fatigue measuring headband to gauge and address their alertness levels using a handheld device.
Buccini Transport and South East Queensland Hauliers drivers ATN has spoken to early in the program were either just getting to grips with it or, after a few weeks, have valued the added awareness of their alertness it affords them on the road.
The roots of the project spring from a pair of fatal port-related trucking accidents four years ago, action to combat which eventually led to a $302,000 in funding under the NHVR’s 2018-19 Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative Fund, supported by the federal government.
Read how the Brisbane port safety program was launched, here
The accidents occurred when the port was linked by single carriageway road.
Port of Brisbane COO Peter Keyte notes that the port agreed to accellerate upgrade Port Drive to dual carriageway in the interest of safety while realising infrastructure alone would only be part of the answer.
“One of the key initiatives is this trial we are doing now with QTA – it fits into our road-safety agenda, in that it give that technology arm in that to our drive to improve on-port safety overall,” Port of Brisbane COO for port services Peter Keyte tells ATN.
“But we don’t stop there. We are now looking at a number of soft and hard initiatives. One of those is a speed and safety camera, which is different to what you see around the roads now.”
This camera technology, which Keyte confirmed will be calibrated and put into trials in the coming weeks, will show vehicle speed while identifying the vehicle as well.
While the port eschews a policing role, it does believe the concept will provide a cultural and mind-set shift.
Meanwhile, QTA CEO Gary Mahon report that the second stage of the project will involve a number of different health and well-being focused initiatives.
Skin Checks will be the first focus area as it is Australia’s most common form of cancer, with two in three Australians developing skin cancer before the age of 70.
As part of the project, a limited number of businesses within the Port of Brisbane precinct have the opportunity to receive free skin checks for their workforce during April and May.
More details can be found here.