Queensland push for better fatigue compliance

<p>The Transport Workers Union (TWU) has welcomed new legislation aimed at reducing fatigue-related crashes in Queensland, as the state faces a mounting road toll.</p> <p>The state’s Cabinet is moving to impose up to three demerit points and fines up to $600 on drivers who work too many hours and who do not take scheduled breaks.</p> <p>Queensland’s road toll has reached a five-year high, with 283 deaths so far in 2006, just short of the 285 recorded at this time in 2001.</p> <p>There have been 266 fatal crashes, the highest it has been since as far back as 2000. </p> <p>The figures show that 44 people have died in crashes involving heavy freight vehicles in Queensland so far this year, the highest level since 2003 when 48 people died.</p> <p>TWU spokesman Hughie Williams told the ABC that the figure was too high and called on companies not to overwork their drivers.</p> <p>&#8220I think that if drivers are forced to drive these long hours, they’ve got to say no, they’ve got to report them to the union so that we can take the necessary action,&#8221 Mr Williams said.</p> <p>&#8220I’ve been to too many funerals over the last 20 or so years and a lot of these funerals are unnecessary when drivers are being killed purely because of fatigue.&#8221</p> <p>The push came as the Australian Trucking Association (ATA) launched a campaign to find Australia’s best young truck driver.</p> <p>The five-month competition is open to all truck drivers born after April 1, 1967, who hold a HC or MC licence.</p> <p>Candidates will be interviewed and will complete theory and practical tests ahead of a national final in Sydney on April 1 next year.</p> <p>The winner will be given a Scania P420 prime mover, estimated to be worth about $220,000.</p> <br />