Truckie Stories
Details
ROADMASTER RN: 383QFJ
Time: 1730 – 1800
Date: February 11, 2008View Page
Place of Incident: Pacific Highway between Woodburn and Harwood
I was traveling at 100km hr in 100 zone (according to my gps)he came up behind me and stayed about 800 to 600mm away …very very close, his grill was touchable …for about 5 to 8 km, came to a dual divide he overtook THEN slammed on his brakes big cloud of blue smoke.. nearly ran into him at 100km hour ….very frighting ….he must be nuts!
Dear Bob .. I can advise that this driver admitted to being aggressive in an interview with myself and our National HR Manager, as such we have terminated his employment and flown him back to Brisbane this afternoon. Roadmaster are committed to safety and our values. Thank you for taking the time to alert us of this behaviour, please accept my apologies on behalf of Roadmaster and convey the same to your family for this unfortunate incident.
Regards,
Darrell Richardson
General Manager Supply Chain
COAST to COAST 100 was set up to target aggressive, intimidating heavy vehicle driver behaviour. Help us to address the probem by reporting offenders. Visit the Motorist Information Page for more details on what you should look for. Motorists are also invited to report details of courteous driving behaviour by heavy vehicle operators. This feedback will also be forwarded to trucking company management.
THE COAST TO COAST 100 CAMPAIGN ….. has been developed to save lives. The campaign has now spread across the country. It’s main focus is to increase driver awareness with a view to reducing road trauma and fatalities. Currently, the Pacific Highway holds the unenviable record of being the highway with the highest number of road accidents in the country. This is NOT a national “get a truckie” campaign. Motorists from across the country recognize the efforts of professional, law abiding drivers and ask that you work with them to police the “cowboys” in your industry. Unfortunately YOUR reputations are being tarnished by the behaviour of a minority of operators who’s driving practice involves repeated, deliberate acts of aggression.
THE TRUCK DRIVER ….. has been reminded
To observe minimum distance requirements between themselves and cars in front
To leave sufficient room between semis to allow motorists to overtake
That nowhere in the rule book is 2m mentioned as a legal gap between ANY vehicle
To remember that their speed limit is 100kms per hour
THE TRUCKING COMPANY ….. has been asked to make drivers aware of this road safety campaign and the fact that – no longer prepared to be endlessly tolerant - drivers are set to take mass action reporting dangerous, intimidating driving behavior to both Police and the Coast to Coast 100 website – all in the interest of reducing road trauma and fatalities across our area.
THE MOTORIST ….. has been offered an alternate reporting mechanism through the Coast to Coast 100 website – on the “Report a Truckie” page. It is anticipated that profiles of serial offenders should begin to emerge quite quickly. Coast to Coast staff will liaise with trucking companies involved to enable management to address the problem in-house. Motorists have also been asked to examine their own driving behavior …..
My driving practices …..
Do I pull out in front of semi trailers?
Do I maintain the speed limit if driving conditions permit?
Do I drive in the mistaken belief that semi trailers are slow vehicles?
Am I mindful of the fact that semi drivers run to tight delivery schedules?
Do I overtake semi trailers then slow down in front of them delaying their progress?
Do I drive well below the speed limit blocking semi trailers then speed up in overtaking lanes?
Am I aware that semis and cars cannot go around small two lane roundabouts together?
