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Saving lives with new technology in heavy vehicles
The Australian Government has mandated two life-saving vehicle technologies for new heavy vehicles – Advanced Emergency Braking (AEB) and Electronic Stability Control (ESC).
AEB systems detect likely forward collisions, provide the driver with a warning and, if the driver does not respond, apply the brakes automatically. ESC systems detect the risk of a rollover and automatically decelerate the vehicle in response. They can also detect when a vehicle diverges from the driver’s intended course, and take corrective action to bring the vehicle back on track.
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These new standards will apply to all categories of heavy vehicles, from buses and coaches through to heavy goods trucks.
Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister Kevin Hogan said mandating both technologies will help save lives and prevent injuries on the nation’s roads.
“The Australian Government is committed to improving road safety through strong investment and national leadership.Vehicle technology has an important role to play in saving lives and livelihoods on our roads, which is why we have introduced new standards requiring AEB and ESC systems to be installed in all new heavy vehicles. Mandating this technology for heavy vehicles is expected to save around 100 lives and avoid over 2,300 serious injuries over 40 years. As well as saving lives and giving a bit of extra peace of mind to our hard-working heavy vehicle operators and their families, the new standards are expected to return a net benefit of around $140 million to the Australian economy,” said Assistant Minister Hogan.
“Crashes involving heavy vehicles can be particularly severe due to the size, loads and trips these types of vehicles are taking, having a devastating effect on the individuals and families involved. Our heavy vehicle operators work hard to keep our economy and nation running by getting produce to plates and goods to markets, and the Australian Government is committed to doing our part to help keep them safe on our roads. We have listened and we have acted on the calls by road safety advocates, the states and territories, and Australians directly affected by these types of heavy vehicle crashes, to mandate this technology to prevent tragic outcomes." - Assistant Minister Hogan said these technologies would have significant benefits for the heavy vehicle sector, from bus operators through to those driving our biggest trucks.
AEB and ESC systems must be installed from 1 November 2023 for all new models of heavy vehicles.
For existing models already in circulation, these life-saving systems must be installed in new buses from 1 November 2024, and new goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes from 1 February 2025.
You can view the final Regulation Impact Statement, new Australian Design Rules and Explanatory Statements at www. legislation.gov.au/Details/F2022L00211/ Download (AEB systems), and www. legislation.gov.au/Details/F2022L00213/ Download (ESC systems).
Countdown on until we farewell the infamous Bayswater Bridge
As you will read on Page 11 of Bird’s Eye View, the clock is ticking for the infamous Bayswater Bridge, with work now under way on the taller, bigger bridge being delivered as part of the METRONET New Bayswater Station upgrade.
The bridge, which currently has a 3.8 metre clearance and a well-known appetite for trucks, will be removed by the end of the year and replaced by a new structure with a 4.8 metre clearance.
To commemorate the infamous bridge, the McGowan Government is asking the community to have their say on how the structure should be farewelled.
The structures for the new bridge are taking shape with two large beams already installed to support the new lines and longer platforms, with 50 more beams to be installed in coming months.
To have your say on how the Bayswater Bridge should be farewelled, visit www. mysaytransport.wa.gov.au/bayswaterstation-bridge/survey_tools/farewell
Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said, "Truckies will breathe a sigh of relief with the news that we will wave goodbye to the old Bayswater Bridge before the end of the year. "The Bayswater Bridge is an infamous icon of Perth and we want to give it the farewell it deserves - so I encourage community members to have their say on what sort of goodbye they think we should host
