Truck arrival spreads safety message

An Australian Trucking Association vehicle that can teach the public about truck safety will be in Collie on Wednesday.

The ATA’s safety truck will visit Collie Senior High School to remind motorists about the dangers of heavy and light vehicles sharing the road.

Trucks up to 36.5m long will soon be allowed to use the full stretch of Coalfields Highway, making a change from the maximum 27.5m length able to travel down Roelands hill.

A $1.37 million upgrade of the hill’s truck bay will also increase the number of heavy vehicles able to stop there.

Industry Road Safety Alliance South West chairman Simon Dent said it was important to bring the safety truck to the South West as about 750 heavy vehicles a day shared Coalfields Highway with more than 4000 light vehicles.

The safety truck will allow visitors to get a truck driver’s perspective of the road and pick up tips about road safety.

It will be at the school from 11am-1pm and is open to the public.