The NHVR has released its 2023 Heavy Vehicle Safety Strategy Action Plan, which it says highlights essential safety priorities for the next 12 months.
The Regulator says the Action Plan supports the delivery of its Heavy Vehicle Safety Strategy 2021-25, which it says outlines the regulator’s ambitions for achieving better heavy vehicle safety outcomes and reducing the number and seriousness of crashes involving heavy vehicles.
NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto said the Action Plan will deliver initiatives addressing safety risks identified through feedback from our partners, and the analysis of operational data and research.
“All of the 2023 Action Plan’s deliverables are built on the theme of partnerships,” Petroccitto said.
“Through industry partnership and collaboration, the NHVR is committed to achieving better heavy vehicle safety outcomes and reducing the number and seriousness of crashes involving heavy vehicles.”
The Action Plan’s safety initiatives were refined in consultation with the NHVR’s partners at the July 2022 Industry Reference Forum.
Partner feedback was central to determining the five broad actions to improve heavy vehicle safety.
These five actions delivering safer and tailored fatigue risk management outcomes, empowering industry to better manage safety in their business, delivering tailored regulatory interventions to drive positive safety change, influencing the regulatory framework to promote the adoption of safer, cleaner, and more efficient vehicles and technologies; and providing input into government policy decisions that affect the safety and productivity of the heavy vehicle industry.
Each of the above actions contains multiple safety deliverables that will enable safer heavy vehicles and road safety for all road users.
Mr Petroccitto said the Action Plan would help guide the NHVR to continue making strides for a safer heavy vehicle industry in 2023.
“After a busy 2022, this year we are focused on continuing to address heavy vehicle safety risks,” he said.
“I want to thank our partners that provided valuable feedback to help shape the Action Plan and position us for a proactive and successful year to come.”
The NHVR says it delivered several safety actions in 2021-22, that have benefited industry, community and all road users, and says that some of the highlights included, expanding the availability of Electronic Work Diaries by approving its use on multiple electronic devices, delivered the nine-Step Safety Management System (SMS) Roadmap, making SMS guidance material more accessible for transport operators, conducted the Don’t #uck with a Truck campaign to target young learner (L) and provisional (P) licence holders, supported delivery of new Australian Design Rules for increased electronic stability controls and advanced emergency braking, and worked with road managers to expand the gazetted network for Performance Based Standards vehicles
