ABC #396
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NEWS<br />
ROAD SAFETY PROJECT FUNDING<br />
A BUSNSW project to improve<br />
road safety has been selected<br />
as one of 26 initiatives aimed at<br />
saving lives and reducing road<br />
trauma to share in AUD$5.9 million<br />
under Round 5 of the Australian<br />
government’s Heavy Vehicle<br />
Safety Initiative (HVSI), it’s been<br />
announced.<br />
BusNSW executive director Matt<br />
Threlkeld says it was very pleasing<br />
to have a project selected as part<br />
of this important programme<br />
aimed at delivering safety benefits<br />
to the heavy vehicle industry, other<br />
road users and the community.<br />
“The funding and support<br />
administered by the National<br />
Heavy Vehicle Regulator provides<br />
a great opportunity for the bus<br />
and coach industry to promote<br />
road safety, particularly in regard<br />
to heavy vehicles,” Threlkeld said.<br />
“One of the most common<br />
hazards in the bus and coach<br />
industry arises from on-road<br />
safety risks that result from a bus<br />
breakdown,” he explained.<br />
“While breakdowns can occur<br />
in all motor vehicles, the hazards<br />
associated with bus breakdowns<br />
– where the vehicle is usually<br />
carrying public passengers and<br />
often schoolchildren – can be<br />
significant,” he added.<br />
“The aim of the project is<br />
to address risks by producing<br />
practical guidance material for<br />
all parties in the supply chain<br />
associated with bus breakdowns,<br />
specifically bus drivers, operators,<br />
maintenance staff, emergency<br />
assistance providers and<br />
replacement bus drivers.<br />
“While BusNSW will be the<br />
lead agency responsible for<br />
developing the guidance material,<br />
the project will provide regional,<br />
cross-jurisdictional and national<br />
safety benefits for the industry,”<br />
Threlkeld confirmed.<br />
“The guidelines will be<br />
developed in close consultation<br />
with the Bus Industry<br />
Confederation and other state<br />
associations, who are members<br />
of the Bus Australia Network.<br />
“They will be available to all<br />
members, which means they<br />
will assist approximately 3,500<br />
bus operators and over 50,000<br />
bus drivers throughout Australia,”<br />
he said.<br />
FUNDING BOOST<br />
Deputy Prime Minister and<br />
Minister for Infrastructure,<br />
Transport and Regional<br />
Development Michael McCormack<br />
says innovative projects delivering<br />
safety benefits to the heavy vehicle<br />
industry and other road users<br />
would be funded.<br />
“Projects being funded this<br />
round target key areas such as<br />
developing or testing innovative<br />
new technologies, mental health<br />
support for drivers, educational<br />
“It is absolutely vital<br />
we continue to invest<br />
in critical initiatives<br />
that improve road<br />
safety.”<br />
Above:<br />
Deputy Prime<br />
Minister and Minister<br />
for Infrastructure,<br />
Transport and Regional<br />
Development Michael<br />
McCormack.<br />
Opposite, Below:<br />
McCormack says<br />
innovative projects<br />
delivering safety<br />
benefits to the heavy<br />
vehicle industry and<br />
other road users would<br />
be funded.<br />
campaigns and much-needed<br />
training and development,”<br />
he said.<br />
“This includes funding for<br />
the recently launched Healthy<br />
Heads in Trucks and Sheds<br />
foundation to ramp up their<br />
work to improve the mental<br />
health of people in the heavy<br />
vehicle sector nationwide,<br />
from drivers right through to<br />
warehouse and distribution<br />
centre staff.<br />
“Some of the<br />
technology-focused<br />
projects include testing<br />
8<br />
<strong>ABC</strong> August 2020 busnews.com.au
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