The Australian Trucking Association is providing new advice and recommendations on how to best manage your side underrun protection and truck visibility marking.
It has published new editions of its technical advisory procedures on these aspects, with past ATA chair Geoff Crouch launching the new procedures, known as TAPs, at the ATA’s 2024 Technology and Maintenance Conference in Melbourne.
“Side underrun protection devices aim to protect vulnerable road users – pedestrians and cyclists – from falling under the wheels of a truck,” he says.
“The wider Safer Freight Vehicles approved by the federal government last year must be fitted with side underrun protection.
“It’s also a requirement for construction vehicles accredited under the silver standard of the new safety initiative for construction trucks, CLOCS-A, but we recommend that they be installed widely.
“The new TAP sets out how to manufacture and fit side underrun protection to a range of vehicle types, with crisp, clear diagrams covering special cases that were raised by operators and overseas experience.”
Geoff says the new edition of the ATA’s conspicuity marking TAP would give operators the best practice guidance on how and where to apply high visibility tape to their vehicles.
“All Safer Freight Vehicles and CLOCS-A vehicles must have conspicuity marking, but again we recommend that it be used much more widely,” he says.
“During twilight or at night, visibility marking can reduce rear end collisions by up to 41 per cent. It can reduce side collisions by up to 37 per cent.
“The TAP includes comprehensive advice on how to apply tape to trucks and trailers for a long life, how to maintain the tape and information about unusual cases.
“I’d like to thank the NHVR for creating the truck graphics in the TAP.”
Geoff says the development of the TAPs had been a major project of the ATA’s Industry Technical Council and its members, supported by a small secretariat team.
“On behalf of the ATA, I acknowledge the efforts of our Industry Technical Council and its Chair, Dennis Roohan. They’ve done a great job on these new editions,” he says.
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