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Survey finds truck driver fatigue alarming

?The problem starts when fatigue sets in due to economic pressure from large clients to keep driving past their limits,? explained Transport Workers? Union of NSW Secretary Wayne Forno. ?Over- working and falling asleep at your desk won?t kill you; fall asleep behind the wheel of a fully loaded truck going down the freeway at 100km an hour and it?s a different story.?
Almost 40 per cent of the 320 drivers surveyed were concerned about the dangerous practice of motorists suddenly pulling out in front of trucks. Another problem identified motor vehicle drivers increasing speed at the same time as an overtaking opportunity arises for the truck driver. Ten per cent said that they had trouble with drivers not obeying road rules. 
?The NRMA and TWU are both committed to the same cause ? making sure our members return safely to their families at night,? declared NRMA president Wendy Machin. ?To achieve this we must work towards improving the road network to cope with the volume of heavy vehicles and cars that drive on it, building more rest stop areas in key locations and providing more education to all motorists about sharing the road safely.?
The survey found that more than 70 per cent of drivers surveyed believed that the roads are inadequate for carrying heavy vehicles. A large percentage called for wider roads plus more rest areas. The survey also calls for more education for the community to work together towards sharing roads.
Source: TWU, NRMA

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