Issues with rest areas for truck drivers

It may not seem obvious, but without adequate rest areas, how can b-double drivers be safe? There are currently not enought rest areas through our region to ensure that drivers are getting the breaks they need to drive safely and act lawfully. Yet one more reason why the Blue Mountains and B-doubles do not mix.

There's new national legislation about mandatory rest breaks for drivers of heavy trucks, like b-doubles.

In NSW, the reform took effect on 29 September 2008 (five months ago) under the NSW Road Transport (General) Regulation 2005 which contains new provisions relating to the management of heavy vehicle driver fatigue. The regulations apply to drivers of heavy trucks with a Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) over 12 tonnes or a truck and trailer combination with a combined GVM over 12 tonnes; and buses that seat more than 12 adults (including the driver) – i.e. mini-buses. There are transitional arrangements for bus drivers.

An example of the mandatory rest periods is that a driver must not work for more than a total of 6 hours before taking a 15 minute rest. Also in any 24 our period, a driver must no work more that 14 hours and must have at least “7 continuous hrs stationary rest”. .

Read: Deloites Paper http://www.deloitte.com/dtt/article/0,1002,cid%253D216529,00.html?wt.mc_id=au_engoogle_FL8

RTA Guidelines: http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/heavyvehicles/safety/hvfatigue/index.html

Note the lack of heavy vehicle rest areas on the Great western Highway. There is only one Driver Reviver facility across the Blue Mountains at Faulconbridge. The other truck stop with no facilities is at exposed Mt Boyce. See RTA Rest Areas Map: http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/heavyvehicles/downloads/restareas/great_western_map1.pdf

Concerns have also been raised in Moree about this issue.

Concerns over critical shortage of rest areas

BY LUKE BUFFIER

20/01/2009 10:52:00 AM

Concerns have been raised over a critical shortage of major rest areas for heavy vehicle drivers on the New England and Newell highways.

National Roads and Motorists’ Association (NRMA) regional director, Graham Blight, said even with new heavy vehicle driver fatigue reforms, the majority of rest areas across NSW weren’t up to scratch.

“There’s pretty tight prescribed times when they’ve got to stop,” Mr Blight said.

“You can’t ask people to comply with new regulations and laws and not provide the facilities.”

Read the whole article here: http://moree.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/concerns-over-critical-shortage-of-rest-areas/1411558.aspx