The Australian government has invited public submissions for the next round of heavy vehicle safety programs being administered by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR).

Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Darren Chester said $3.8 million in annual funds would be provided to support the Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative program for the benefit of both freight operators and the community.

"I want to hear from operators and industry on the next round of safety initiatives and ensure that funding for heavy vehicle safety continues to hit the mark," Mr Chester said.

"Australia's truck drivers help get our exports to the world, help get food from farmers to families and freight from Point A to Point B, and we are serious about making our roads safer for all road users, including heavy vehicle drivers who play such a valuable role in our national economy."

Investment for safer roads

The government is supporting a variety of existing programs under the Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative such as information on Chain of Responsibility, Automatic Plate Recognition cameras, and the development of Industry Codes of Practice.

It is also investing $254.6 million towards its Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program to improve roads and rest facilities for heavy vehicles across the country.

"There were 208 fatalities involving heavy vehicles across Australia in 2015-16 and I want to see that number continue to decline," said Mr Chester.

The Australian federal government supports a variety of heavy vehicle safety programmes.

Sal Petroccitto, CEO of NHVR, welcomed the federal government's support and recognised the progress many heavy vehicle fleet operators and industry bodies have already accomplished.

"We don't pretend to have all the answers, which is why we are asking heavy vehicle operators and peak industry bodies to harness their existing knowledge and apply for funding where appropriate," Mr Petroccitto said.

"We are particularly looking at programs that can be delivered nationally to enhance safety across the heavy vehicle industry and therefore the safety of all road users."

Technology is improving heavy vehicle road safety

Advanced vehicle management systems such as vehicle telematics are already making a huge difference when it comes to the safety of Australian heavy vehicle transport operators.

Such satellite navigation-guided tools enable fleet managers to monitor the movements of their vehicles in real time, ensuring they are immediately aware of any hazards, problems or interruptions to journeys. This allows operators to render assistance to drivers when needed, such as breakdowns or accidents.

Get in touch with Pinpoint Communications today to find out how a vehicle telematics safety initiative can be implemented for your fleet.