In Queensland, police escort over 6000 heavy vehicles carrying oversize or over mass loads each year. A new safety campaign has been launched with the aim of helping to educate other motorists on driving safely around these vehicles.
The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) and Queensland Police Service (QPS) have teamed up to launch the Sharing our Roads with Oversize Loads campaign this week, to coincide with Queensland Road Safety Week, which runs from August 22-26. The campaign features a series of videos around the subject.
“This campaign highlights the risks of reckless driving around oversize vehicles. Light vehicle drivers can make the mistake of trying to overtake and find themselves stuck in between the oversize load and the pilot or escort vehicle,” said Federal Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Senator Carol Brown.
“This creates a risk for the drivers to try and safely transport and escort the load with a light vehicle in an unsafe position, putting themselves and others at risk.”
The Sharing our Roads with Oversize Loads campaign is funded by the Australian Government through the NHVR’s Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative.
“Oversize loads come in all shapes and sizes, but the approach to safety remains the same,” said Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey.
“Heavy vehicle convoys can span kilometres and carry a wide range of cargo, such as wide agricultural machinery, long metal beams and old houses, so it’s critical all road users exercise caution and patience around them to help keep our roads safe.”
QPS Superintendent of Road Policing, Janelle Andrews, said when light vehicles overtake a turning truck or pull in front of a truck suddenly, the consequences can be tragic.
“For wide loads, don’t try to overtake or pull back onto the road until you receive directions from police escorts or a pilot,” she added.