Release of Guidelines for the Provision of Rest Area Facilities energises industry
The National Road Transport Association (NatRoad) has added its weight to industry calls for concerted government attention at all levels on ensuring heavy vehicle rest areas are fit for purpose.
NatRoad wants the federal and state governments to work with the road transport industry to solve the problem of inadequate heavy vehicle rest areas across the nation, in the wake of Austroads’ recent publication of Guidelines for the Provision of Rest Area Facilities.
“The National Guidelines are valuable, but a similar set was issued by the National Transport Commission in 2005 and, 14 years on, there are still many freight routes that don’t have an adequate number of rest areas with decent facilities,” NatRoad CEO, Warren Clark says.
“NatRoad has repeatedly said that there is an urgent need to build and maintain enough heavy vehicle rest areas with appropriate facilities.
“All too often truck stops aren’t located where they are required, and even where they do exist availability of spaces and basic amenities can be a problem. “
Read about the start of the rest areas information rollout, here
NatRoad underlines that lack of adequate rest areas is a critical road safety issue, not just for heavy vehicle drivers but all road users.
It believes government action is the key to solving this problem and that local councils and governments “need to acknowledge the immediate need to build heavy vehicle rest facilities that provide basic needs together with security on site, so that drivers feel comfortable and safe when on the road”.
“The release of the National Guidelines presents itself as an opportunity for state and territory governments to review their plans correcting gaps between what they have and what the National Guidelines suggest they should have,” Clark says
“We now look to the national and local authorities to set out plans to ensure there are adequate facilities on key freight routes so that heavy vehicle drivers can effectively manage their fatigue and comply with their legal work and rest obligations in rest areas that provide them with decent levels of service.”