Heavy Vehicle Safety Strategy 2021-2025 open for consultation
The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) is seeking industry input on the draft Heavy Vehicle Safety Strategy (HVSS) 2021-2025.
The half-decade HVSS sets out the NHVR’s strategic ambitions to improve heavy vehicle safety outcomes and contribute to a reduction in the number of crashes, fatalities and serious injuries involving heavy vehicles.
NHVR safety director Greg Fill says the strategy, developed to align with the federal government’s draft National Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030, is open for feedback until April 30.
“The Safety Strategy will be supported by an annual Action Plan, outlining the activities, responsibilities and timeframes for delivery that the NHVR will undertake over the next five years,” Fill says.
“This an opportunity to have input into the NHVR’s strategic approach to partnerships, creating positive change in individual behaviours and industry culture, and to drive the uptake of a modern, safer heavy vehicle fleet that reduces the likelihood and impact of crashes.”
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According to data released by the Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics (BITRE), the yearly number of road deaths involving a heavy vehicle has been trending downwards, with a 2.5 per cent reduction over the last decade.
“Any fatality on our roads is one too many so we want to see that number continue to reduce over the next decade,” Fill says.
The strategy discusses:
- The role of human factors in heavy vehicle safety
- The link between human behaviours and organisational culture
- How the NHVR will change behaviours and culture
- Delivering visible, targeted, compliance activities
- Influencing other road users’ behaviour around heavy vehicles
- Safer vehicles and increased uptake of safety technology
- Vehicle maintenance
- Safe network design
- Number and quality of rest stops
- Safe heavy vehicle road use
The strategy is available, and subsequent submissions can be made, here. www.nhvr.gov.au/hvss