Freeway safety on agenda at national transport meeting
Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis says he will raise the issue of freeway safety and driver competency standards at a national meeting of transport ministers today, with the state government exploring new education programs and “more appropriate signage” to address the problem.
Roadworks below the tunnels on the freeway. Photo: Tony Lewis/InDaily
The issue of freeway safety was put back on the agenda last week after a truck ploughed through seven cars and a bus at the end of the South Eastern Freeway on Sunday, July 24.
Nine people were taken to hospital but there were no fatalities.
Three days after the crash, police arrested and charged a Queensland truck driver for allegedly driving unlicensed, nine counts of dangerous driving causing harm, endangering life and “numerous national heavy vehicle offences”.
The South Australian Department for Infrastructure and Transport is currently exploring options to improve safety on the South Eastern Freeway, including a proposal for a third arrester bed.
Koutsantonis said he would be putting driver competency standards on the agenda today at the Infrastructure and Transport Ministers’ Meeting, which brings together state and federal transport ministers in a national cabinet-style forum.
He said the state government was “determined to ensure driver competency standards are implemented as a matter of urgency”.
“These are matters that need to be raised at a national scale, to ensure when heavy vehicles are crossing borders safety compliance remains consistent,” he said in a statement.
“We need to be doing everything we can to ensure South Australians feel safe on our roads.”
Koutsantonis also said he met with representatives of the Heavy Road Freight Industry earlier this week to discuss freeway compliance and safety issues.
Among the solutions discussed was working on a new education program with SAPOL and industry and implementing “more appropriate signage” along the South Eastern Freeway.
A spokesperson for the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator told InDaily there was no compliance “blitz” underway after last week’s crash but regular checks were continuing.
“There’s no specific operation or blitz being undertaken on the South Eastern Freeway,” the spokesperson said.
“If NHVR officers were in the area it was part of their normal day-to-day duties.
“Officer check for compliance with a range of heavy vehicle laws, including fatigue, correct permits and legal weight and vehicle size.”
