Dashcam footage of a triple road train turning right onto the Eyre Highway, at Kyancutta, was recently aired by a television news outlet – leaving numerous truck drivers asking why.
Tagged up as “Terrifying near-miss – Motorist confronted by road train”, it’s yet another example of mainstream media pointing the finger and vilifying truck drivers.
The television journalist also comments on the truck driver taking a long time to make the turn – quite understandable, as the driver is of course pulling three trailers.
While the footage that was aired starts from the moment that the car and truck are in close proximity, a quick shot at the end of the clip shows the truck was already turning when the car was much further away.
And truck drivers weren’t having a bar of it either. Commenting on the video when it was shared on Facebook, one truckie wrote: “Near miss, hahahaha. What on earth are you car drivers thinking? Why don’t you try driving a B-triple and see how you go?”
Another truckie wrote, “Maybe the motorist should of lifted their foot of the accelerator when they first noticed truck making turn.”
While another commented, “Police investigating? Wtf? Car driver needs to hand in their licence if they are ‘terrified’.”
South Australian Road Transport Association (SARTA) Executive Officer Steve Shearer has also weighed in. He told Big Rigs, “What makes this type of example a near miss is the failure of the motorists involved to look ahead and observe that a long heavy vehicle is entering the highway and to slow down as they should do.
“It’s very frustrating when the general media, especially TV news editors, seize the opportunity of an apparently dramatic video clip to spice up their nightly news program, without adding any appropriate road safety reality message, such a heavy vehicle needs more room. They love to report on ‘monster trucks and shark attacks, especially if they have video but it’s not responsible or helpful journalism.”
Shearer added that it is a constant challenge to work with these journalists and editors, to educate them about the realities of driving a heavy vehicle, and enlist their support to use their influential position to help educate the community and improve safety.
“Ratings should not take precedence over the real community interest which should be promoting safety.”
Following the clip being aired on television and shared across social media, Big Rigs contacted TML Transport for comment. “We are very disappointed by the amount of footage shown of the incident and the publicity received on a national News channel. We as a company have carried out a full investigation,” TML Director Lewis Magro said.
“We are very thankful for the support shown from the trucking industry.”
Having lived on the West Coast of SA for 15 years & travelled both east & west for work & ‘pleasure’, all I can say about this incident is that they don’t question the speed that the motorist was travelling at, nor was the visible road clear when the truckie commenced his turn! That obviously would spoil a good story!
Don’t we drive responsibly any more? If there’s something blocking a road, do we now still keep driving at the speed limit (& a bit more?)?
Dash cams can be useful but in cases like this, is it only a way to demonstrate the inadequacies of modern drivers who are followers of social media?
No, I’m not a truck driver – there are times where I feel sorry for them when they are confronted by idiots in fast cars. utes!
It’s a frustratingly common narrative that overlooks the essential role truckies play in keeping the nation supplied. Portraying them as the villain in broader issues like road safety or congestion is not only unfair but counterproductive, as it alienates the very workforce the country depends on. Beyond calling out biased reporting, what specific, positive action is the peak body taking to proactively reshape this public narrative and highlight the professionalism and economic importance of the trucking industry?
Yet another idiot in a car, who doesn’t know where the brake pedal is. And, yet another load of sensationalist b——t on Channel 7.
typical of.main stream media , sensationalise it as a near miss .this is a classic case of it too, the road train had already committed to the intersection , how fast was the car going to have a near miss any way.people to stupid to lift off the right foot to preserve there own life .all in a hurry to die .???.
if that intersection was a roundabout the truck would have right of way, as previously commented, its pretty easy for the car just to lift the foot off the accelerator