Toll Group says safety technology will help reduce road carnage

Toll Group have called on the Government for action on reducing the road toll, following a horrific spate of fatalities across the Christmas break and into the New Year.

Toll Group’s Managing Director Michael Byrne insists that the “solution to the road toll cannot and will not come solely from industry”.

Making a case for modern vehicle technologies, Byrne notes “technologies such as autonomous emergency braking systems, lane departure warning systems and electronic stability control can save up to 104 lives per year but are taking too long to become standard in the fleet.”

ATN reports: Toll Group is demanding a nationwide overhaul of trucking industry operations to improve road safety across Australia.

In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Toll Group Managing Director Michael Byrne recommends six key points that can help reduce road toll, including:

• one rule book for heavy vehicles and drivers across all states and territories
• introduction of a national operator licensing system
• community education campaigns to help improve understanding of road behaviour around heavy vehicles
• incentives / rewards for operators with sound safety records, and mandatory investment in modern, safer fleets
• mandatory application of telematics for regulatory purposes
• draw on private sector expertise in all discussions related to heavy vehicles and road safety

Byrne says Australia needs a national approach to heavy vehicle regulation and driver licensing in place of existing “multiple and overlapping rules” at local council, state and national levels.

Read the full story in ATN