The NHVR and Queensland Police Service are focusing on safely transporting oversize loads this Queensland Road Safety Week
The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) and Queensland Police Service (QPS) have launched the Sharing our Roads with Oversize Loads campaign, with a series of videos to show road users how to stay safe when driving near trucks towing oversize loads this Queensland Road Safety Week.
Police escort more than six thousand heavy vehicles with an oversize or overmass load, such as mining or construction equipment, in Queensland each year.
A heavy vehicle with an oversize load is often accompanied by a pilot or escort vehicle at the front and rear, which displays a ‘Oversize’ or ‘Oversize Load Ahead’ sign with flashing lights to alert approaching traffic.
The Queensland Police Service Heavy Vehicle Road Operations Program Office provides the escort service function for oversize loads in Queensland to ensure the safe movement of the heavy vehicle, and to direct traffic to slow down, pull over and stop for an approaching wide load.
“The NHVR, police authorities, state and local government road managers and heavy vehicle operators each have a role to play in selecting the routes and conditions that oversize loads must meet to transport important cargo, such as critical infrastructure, on Australia’s roads,” federal transport minister Catherine King says.
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“Road safety starts with all of us; the route is planned to ensure the safety of all road users – we ask for everyone to do their part, take care and reduce their speed when driving around oversize loads.”
Federal assistant transport minister Carol Brown says: “This campaign highlights the risks of reckless driving around oversize vehicles.“
“Light vehicle drivers can make the mistake of trying to overtake and find themselves stuck in between the oversize load and the pilot or escort vehicle.
“This creates a risk for the drivers to try and safely transport and escort the load with a light vehicle in an unsafe position, putting themselves and others at risk.“
Queensland transport minister Mark Bailey says safety approaches must remain the same for oversize loads of all shapes and sizes.
“We all have a duty to keep one another safe on our roads, from following road signs to being aware of surroundings and keeping an eye on speed,” Bailey says.
“Heavy vehicle convoys can span kilometres and carry a wide range of cargo, such as wide agricultural machinery, long metal beams and old houses, so it’s critical all road users exercise caution and patience around them to help keep our roads safe.
“Alongside this initiative, the Queensland government is investing more than $1.5 billion in targeted road safety projects as part of our commitment to help Queenslanders get home sooner and safer.”