Media Release-QTA Secures Federal Funding for Think.Act.Drive Program
Queensland Trucking Association’s (QTA) Think. Act. Drive. Program will receive crucial funding from the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator’s (NHVR) Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative (HVSI), supported by the Australian Government.
The Think. Act. Drive. Safety Program will address the interactions that truck drivers have with other road users that can potentially lead to road crashes or unsafe driving behaviour that may result in an accident. The course content will adhere to safety management system principles, consider psychological and physiological behaviours, risk taking and safety culture change in the design.
Gary Mahon, Chief Executive Officer, QTA said, “This industry and research informed project will address one of the major contributors to accidents involving heavy vehicles being driver behaviour. This will be achieved by developing and delivering a unique online training program available nationally for heavy vehicle drivers over the next 12 months.”
The video training content will simulate practical scenarios that heavy vehicle drivers encounter, influence their behaviour and mindset, and potentially impact decisions made whilst driving a heavy vehicle. The key theme is centred around two of the top four findings in relation to cause of truck crashes as reported in the 2022 National Truck Accident Research Centre (NTARC) Report - Driver error and human-factor related accident causes. 2022 NTARC, p4.
Mr Mahon said, “It is apparent that heavy vehicle drivers, due to the high number of kilometres travelled and time on the road, are likely to often experience challenging interactions with other road users which sees them regularly exposed to unsafe driving behaviour by other road users.”
Safety around heavy vehicles is increasing in the community, however, there are many road users that may not fully understand characteristics of heavy vehicles such as stopping distances, safety space and length of road required when passing. The program will focus on how truck drivers react to these interactions, provide relevant and practical training to influence their behaviour and mindset enabling them to make safe driving choices.
NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto said Queensland Trucking Association is one of 12 grantees that will receive funding as part of a $4 million investment towards HVSI projects.
“As part of the HVSI, industry will be driving its own safety initiatives to contribute to safer roads, drivers, and vehicles,” Mr Petroccitto said.
“Round 8 projects include roadside health and wellness screening, driver training, and increased safety of vulnerable road users by using artificial intelligence-based video analytics to improve the design of intersections.
“These new initiatives provide solutions to key issues in the transport and logistics sector, ultimately helping reduce road trauma and save lives.
“I am excited to see how QTA’s project will make an impact, to deliver improved safety outcomes for all road users.”
For more information visit www.nhvr.gov.au/hvsi
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Media Contacts:
QTA | Gary Mahon | gary@qta.com.au | 0418 736 802
NHVR | Jesse St Ledger | 07 3309 8765
