Horrific Truck Crash Claims Driver’s Life
Source: BrisbaneTimes.com.au
Another tragedy has struck on the Burnett Highway at Booubyjan outside of Gympie, this time leaving one truck driver seriously injured while claiming the life of another.
A man was killed during a horrific collision between 2 trucks on the highway north-west of Gympie earlier this year, highlighting the risks truck drivers are exposed each day.
Emergency services arrived at the scene of the 2 truck crash on the Burnett Highway at Booubyjan about 120km from Gympie around 8:30pm. A cattle truck appeared to have collided with another truck towing a caravan.
The driver of one truck died at the scene. The other driver was airlifted by RACQ CareFlight rescue helicopter to Toowoomba Hospital, he is suspected to have suffered chest injuries.
In addition to the tragic consequences, crashes like this one and others often result in huge delays, this one led to the highway remaining closed for most of the morning.
This excerpt from a post on BrisbaneTimes.com.au explains:
A Queensland Police spokeswoman said the Burnett Highway remained closed on Wednesday morning.
Emergency crews have worked through the night to clear the scene and the Forensic Crash Unit is investigating the cause of the fatal crash.
Up to 10 cattle also had to be euthanised in the wake of the crash, police said.
The high number of crashes involving heavy vehicles is one of the reasons the Australian Trucking Association (ATA) has welcomed the government’s Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program.
The $200 million program will take place over the next five years and include road access improvements, new bridges being built and new and upgraded heavy vehicle rest areas across Australia. It is hoped the program will help reduce tragic incidents such as the April crash that claimed a driver’s life.
ATA Chief Executive Stuart St Clair explained about the projects:
“The fatigue laws dictate that truck drivers must take regular breaks, but on many freight routes there simply aren’t enough rest areas for drivers to comply,” Mr St Clair said.
Source: http://www.truck.net.au/media/media-releases/industry-welcomes-new-heavy-vehicle-safety-projects
The development of the program came after an earlier review of truck rest areas found that there weren’t any highways in Australia that complied with the national guideline,
“In 2008, a review of truck rest areas found that none of Australia’s major highways fully met the national guidelines, which require a major rest area every 100 kilometres, a minor rest area every 50 kilometres, and a small truck parking bay every 30 kilometres.
Source: http://www.truck.net.au/media/media-releases/industry-welcomes-new-heavy-vehicle-safety-projects
The Australian Trucking Association welcomed the news of the program and praised the government’s efforts in improving road safety on the whole,
“The ATA applauds the Government for continuing to improve heavy vehicle infrastructure through the program. By making it easier for drivers to find a place to stop, this funding improves safety for all road users.”
Source: http://www.truck.net.au/media/media-releases/industry-welcomes-new-heavy-vehicle-safety-projects
