TRUCK SAFETY

Trucking industry safety needs improvement

By Andrew Koubaridis @A_Koubaridis , Kieran Campbell @KieranCampbell , Gisborne Herald

8:08 AM Thursday May 30, 2013

Trucking industry groups accept more needs to be done to improve safety, after two fatal crashes in the eight days since a campaign was launched to reduce the number of people killed in truck accidents.

The two men killed in the accidents, at Kerikeri on Tuesday and on the East Coast last week, are the latest victims in an industry desperate to improve its safety record.

Both crashes were between two trucks.

First Union transport and logistics secretary Karl Andersen has called for an investigation into the cause of heavy vehicle accidents, saying many drivers are being put under pressure to drive for longer shifts.

Road Transport Forum chief executive Ken Shirley said the safety of the industry had drastically improved in the last 15 years but he admitted more needed to be done to crack down on the "three big causes" of crashes: speed, inattention and fatigue . . . .

Full story: NZHerald

Peter’s Piece

Mr Shirley’s statement appears calculated to pass the buck down the line to the people at the coal-face; the drivers on the road who dare not speak out in case they get their marching orders.

Driving a truck for many companies can be a case of my way, or the highway.

Mr Shirley’s statement should be compared with the interim results of Operation Austrans:

Since its launch on May 20:

• 1079 heavy vehicles stopped: 13 coaches and buses, 406 truck and trailer units, 47 articulated trucks, 234 B-Trains and 379 rigid trucks

• 866 roadside drug and alcohol tests, no offenders.

• 93 warnings to heavy vehicle operators

• 363 infringements, including speed (53), seat belts (11), maintenance/vehicle faults (90), dangerous goods offences (10), excess weight/loading issues (42).

These results show that maintenance and vehicle faults (90) was the most common infringement. That is the responsibility of the operator, but a common response from operators to drivers when asked to drive a vehicle that is sub-standard is, “If you’re a professional, you’ll be able to handle it.”

But a statement like that surely makes the operator very un-professional.

We hear a lot of rumor about drivers on drugs, but out of 866 roadside tests they found no offenders. That’s right. Not one in 866.

Dangerous goods and overloading offences are the responsibility of the operator. A driver with many companies will be told to carry the load he is given, or take a hike.

Operation Austrans also deserves some criticism. They have issued 363 infringement notices to drivers, but only 93 warnings to operators. Is that fair?