Other States Yet To Take On SA Truck Driver Privacy Changes Lead
South Australia’s controversial amendment which allows police to inform employers of drivers’ dangerous driving behaviour is being closely monitored by other states.
Mainland states are waiting to see what the outcome of truck driver privacy changes are in SA before considering implementing the amendment themselves.
According to an article on Fullyloaded.com.au, other states are closely observing the implementation of SA’s amendment to privacy regulations before they consider implementing similar changes themselves.
The changes which were recently implemented in SA, allow police to inform transport operators if drivers of their vehicles engage in dangerous driving behaviour. Some of the dangerous behaviour includes speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol or the influence of drugs. According to authorities these offences are the most likely catalysts for referral, but police are limited to reporting just these offences. They have the power to inform employers of bad driver behaviour whenever they deem it necessary.
Stephen Mullighan SA Transport Minister explained:
“These draft regulations will remove that impediment allowing police to notify of serious offences,”
“This measure will give the owners and operators of heavy vehicles greater control and certainty over their businesses, as well as making our roads safer for all South Australians.”
Source: http://www.fullyloaded.com.au
The SA Road Transport Association welcomed the decision, after apparently lobbying for the changes for over a decade.
They aren’t the only association lobbying for the laws. The Australian Trucking Association NSW (ATANSW) has also been lobbying the NSW Roads and Maritime Services for similar laws, but they will have to wait to see if it will be implemented in their state.
They are however pleased that it has been implemented in SA so that it will provide them an evidence base for their future lobbying, ATANSW Manager Jodie Broadbent explained.
“We suspect most governments will look at SA’s changes positively,” Broadbent says.
Source: http://www.fullyloaded.com.au
Duncan Gay, NSW Roads and Freight Minister said if changes were implemented in NSW, it would be limited to giving access to real-time licence information to employers. He believes the nature of any infringement is confidential including driver details.
Other spokespeople from Queensland, Western Australia and Victoria also did not want to specify whether or not the amendments would be introduced in their jurisdictions and only provided basic information when questioned by the ATN, according to the article on Fullyloaded.com.au.
The ATN contacted a spokesperson for Victorian Roads Minister Luke Donnellan who, like representatives from other states declined to comment on the SA regulations specifically but rather reiterated that the state government was committed to road safety. The Victorian Roads Minister’s representative stated:
“The Andrews Labor Government takes the issue of heavy vehicle safety very seriously,” he says.
“While the majority of truck drivers do the right thing, we will continue to work closely with VicRoads and our road safety partners, including Victoria Police, to continue to make the safety of all road users our top priority.”
Read more at: http://www.fullyloaded.com.au
