Australian Trucking Association (ATA) Chairman, Trevor Martyn has called on all drivers to slow down and be courteous to other road users as part of TruckWeek 2010.
Mr Martyn said TruckWeek is the perfect opportunity for all motorists, including Australia’s professional truck drivers, to make a serious effort to be safe on the road and help reduce the nation’s road toll.
“One of the key messages of TruckWeek 2010 is increasing awareness about sharing the road safely with trucks,” Mr Martyn said.
“That’s why I’m urging all truck drivers to think about how they drive when they get behind the wheel this TruckWeek.
“As professionals, I’m asking our nation’s truck drivers to set the standard on the road. But I’m also urging every motorist to remember that truck drivers want to get home to their families too, but our trucks perform very differently to cars.
“If every motorist focuses on the safety of not only themselves, but also of all road users, whenever they step behind the wheel, we will be going a long way to reducing the number of fatalities we see each year on our roads.
TruckWeek is being held from Sunday 21 – Saturday 27 February, with events run across Australia to inform the community and politicians about the importance of the trucking industry, the issues the industry will face in the coming years, how to drive safely around trucks, and the great careers that are now available.