The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) is urging heavy vehicle drivers to be cautious when travelling down steep descents, following multiple incidents on the South Eastern (SE) Freeway in South Australia.
The regulator is reminding heavy vehicle operators and drivers to inspect their brakes and follow steep descent warning signs.
NHVR Director of Operations Southern Region Paul Simionato said that the SE Freeway has been the scene of several horrific crashes in recent years, tragically resulting in the loss of multiple lives.
“The SE Freeway is a significant freight route corridor as it’s the most direct connection between Adelaide and Melbourne, and unfortunately, the intersection of Cross Road and Glen Osmond has been notorious for heavy vehicle crashes,” Simionato said.
“We’ve seen far too many incidents where heavy vehicle brakes have failed or road warnings have been disregarded and tragically, people have lost their lives.
Simionato added that faulty or ineffective brakes are a serious safety concern and even minor defects can have serious consequences.
“We know this particular freeway presents unique driving conditions for heavy vehicles – but it’s up to the driver to ensure they are adhering to warning signs, shifting to a low gear before beginning the descent, keeping to the left lane and maintaining a safe and controlled speed,” he said.
“If a driver is descending on the SE Freeway and has a concern or issue with their brakes, we strongly encourage them to use the two safety ramps available which are free to use.
“Prevention starts with education, and NHVR SCOs are committed to working with industry to ensure every driver and operator understand the risks involved with faulty brakes.
“Operators have a responsibility to ensure their vehicles are roadworthy and braking systems are in top condition – for the safety of their own drivers, other road users, and to the communities their vehicles travel through.”
Simionato said a well-maintained braking system with correctly adjusted brakes is essential in any situation, especially when making steep descents like parts of the SE Freeway.
The NHVR’s regulatory advice for managing steep descents in a heavy vehicles can be found here.
When they constructed the Heysen Tunnels through the Adelaide Hills (above the old Devil’s Elbow) I predicted that there would be many run-aways. The tunnels have now allowed a basically race-track-styled easy run, rather than the old route, past Eagle-On-The-Hill. The old route has so many tight bends that you had to go slow. Back then, before going ‘down the hill’, I would always stop and feel all my wheel-hubs, to see if any of the brakes had over-heated. If there were any hot hubs, I’d wait a while for them to cool-down. Either way (hot hubs or not) I’d then put the rig into a low-gear, and just slowly cruise down the hill (and around all the bends) to Devil’s Elbow. From there I’d still keep the low gear down to the Toll-Gate traffic-lights. Back then, I never heard of a single truck doing a ‘run-away’.