The federal government and National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) are taking further action to reduce road trauma and save truckies lives with new road safety project initiatives.
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As part of Round 9 of the Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative (HVSI), the pair will invest $3.9 million into 16 crucial industry-led projects to deliver safety improvements across Australia’s heavy vehicle industry, as well as protecting other road users.
Successful applicants include Deakin University’s Truckwise Roadshow, which aims to increase awareness of safety practises when working with heavy vehicles through virtual reality and St John Ambulance’s Defibs in Trucks Program, equipping 50 heavy vehicles with new, high quality Automated External Defibrillators (AED’s) and providing First Aid training to drivers to reduce deaths in regional, rural, and remote communities.
GM Cartage and Contracting’s Accelerating Ambitions Program is also part of the funding and aims to increase awareness among young drivers of career opportunities within the trucking industry and provide innovative solutions to increase diversity in the industry.
NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto says the NHVR’s HVSI program continues to support safety initiatives that benefit the heavy vehicle industry and the wider community.
“Through this game-changing program, we have seen projects across the country deliver lasting and transformative results,” he says.
“We look forward to continuing to engage with safety-focused groups towards a shared goal of safer roads for all – and utilise their extensive knowledge and existing work to deliver future improvements to heavy vehicle safety.”
“There is still plenty of work to do to reduce road trauma in Australia, which is why I am looking forward to seeing these 16 new initiatives get underway, and the positive impact they are sure to have on heavy vehicle safety right across the country.”
The new initiatives are set to provide tangible improvements for the transport and logistics sector, supporting productivity, and making the road network safer by developing training, educational campaigns and innovative new technologies.
Assistant Minister for Regional Development, Anthony Chisholm says the trucking industry is the backbone of our nation’s economy.
“That’s why our government is continuing to invest in road safety programs that will keep truckies safe and keep Australia’s economy moving,” he says.
“These 16 successful projects provide solutions to challenges that we’re currently seeing throughout the industry, such as removing barriers for young people entering the sector, increasing awareness of how to drive safely around heavy vehicles and boosting safety within the industry itself.”
“This includes the excellent initiative by St John Ambulance to equip 50 trucks with new, high-quality Automated External Defibrillators, and training truck drivers to provide first aid, reducing roadside deaths in regional, rural, and remote communities in the process.”
The Australian Government has invested more than $41 million across 169 HVSI projects since the program commenced in 2016.
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