Federal truck safety program 'successful' so far: review

14/06/2012 - A $70 million federal program to improve the safety of trucks on Australia's highways has been successful, but an independent review says it's too early to make a final assessment.

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Under the heavy vehicle safety and productivity program, $30 million was allocated in 2008/09 and another $40 million in 2011/12.

It was spent on driver rest areas, parking and decoupling bays, road enhancements such as strengthening bridges, and trials of safety technology.

A review by chartered accountants, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, commissioned by the transport department and released on Wednesday, found feedback on the projects from governments and the transport industry was positive.

But it said full data, assessing whether the spending had helped reduce the number of road accidents involving heavy vehicles and increasing productivity by improving road networks, was not yet available.

It recommended assessing the program again in three years.

Deloitte also recommended a national campaign about broader road safety directed at private motorists who were at fault in four in five fatal accidents that involved heavy vehicles.

Source: AAP

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