THE New South Wales Government and trucking organizations have today addressed calls for more rest areas along major highways such as the Kings and Princes.
The Federal Government announced it would commit $70 million in funding to national highways, which includes building rest stops. About 125 new stops will be built across the nation.
The figure still falls far short of the Australian Trucking Association (ATA)’s target of an extra 900 rest areas to be established over 10 years.
Rest areas have been a major safety issue that has united the entire trucking industry and the ATA has spent many years campaigning for more heavy-vehicle rest areas.
ATA spokesman Bill McKinley says that drivers have resorted to parking along the side of the road to take rest breaks, particularly along the Princes Highway, which can be dangerous.
The Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) is currently developing a strategy to identify sites where heavy vehicle rest areas can be built.
An RTA spokesman stresses that the NSW government recognises the importance of building on the existing network to make it as easy as possible for truck drivers to manage fatigue.
The ATA says the funding will free up funds for the State Government to construct these much-needed rest stops for local highways.
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