❓ Hon Alan Cadby raises concerns about the lack of official authorization for heavy haulage escort pilots and its impact on their safety and recognition. The Minister responds that a review is underway to address this and other related issues.
AnsweredQoN 1210Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the current situation that while the actions of heavy haulage escort pilots are covered under Section 2000, Part 18, Division Clause 271 of the
Road Traffic Act
, these pilots are not gazetted as an authorised person, and that in the case of an accident these pilots lack the proper community recognition and cooperation as to the road safety aspects of their job, and industry protection in the case of an accident. Under the Act, these pilots could be so authorised by a declaration by the Director General of Main Roads, and the subsequent notice of this declaration in the Gazette.
It is my understanding that the Main Rods Heavy Haulage Unit has had a proposal that these heavy haulage escort pilots should be so declared and gazetted, and a list of pilots who would be affected by this gazettal for over 12 months.
Can the Minister please advise -
(1) Are heavy haulage escort pilots gazetted under the above mentioned section of the Act as authorised persons?
(2) Does the Main Road Heavy Haulage Unit have such a proposal before them for consideration?
(3) If so, since what date?
(4) If so, what action has been taken upon that proposal?
(5) If no action has yet been taken, when does the Minister envisage being able to supply me with information pertaining to that proposal?
(6) Can the Minister advise how many heavy haulage accidents have been reported in the last two years?
(7) How many of these have related to other road user’s failure to properly observe the warnings of the heavy haulage escort pilots?
(8) Will the Minister undertake to instruct the Department to resolve this issue?
(9) Have there been any attempts by the Department to improve the safety of the people working in the industry as a heavy haulage escort pilot?
Road Traffic Act
, these pilots are not gazetted as an authorised person, and that in the case of an accident these pilots lack the proper community recognition and cooperation as to the road safety aspects of their job, and industry protection in the case of an accident. Under the Act, these pilots could be so authorised by a declaration by the Director General of Main Roads, and the subsequent notice of this declaration in the Gazette.
It is my understanding that the Main Rods Heavy Haulage Unit has had a proposal that these heavy haulage escort pilots should be so declared and gazetted, and a list of pilots who would be affected by this gazettal for over 12 months.
Can the Minister please advise -
(1) Are heavy haulage escort pilots gazetted under the above mentioned section of the Act as authorised persons?
(2) Does the Main Road Heavy Haulage Unit have such a proposal before them for consideration?
(3) If so, since what date?
(4) If so, what action has been taken upon that proposal?
(5) If no action has yet been taken, when does the Minister envisage being able to supply me with information pertaining to that proposal?
(6) Can the Minister advise how many heavy haulage accidents have been reported in the last two years?
(7) How many of these have related to other road user’s failure to properly observe the warnings of the heavy haulage escort pilots?
(8) Will the Minister undertake to instruct the Department to resolve this issue?
(9) Have there been any attempts by the Department to improve the safety of the people working in the industry as a heavy haulage escort pilot?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
13 November 2003
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure
Response time
65 days
(2)-(3) Main Roads commissioned a report by OG Consultants on proposed amendments to the Road Traffic Code 2000 to rectify deficiencies within the Pilot and Escort system. The report was received in October 2000 and contained a number of recommendations on how best to establish a pilot system based on the use of ‘authorised persons’. (4) Main Roads has initiated a formal review of the operations and management of the Pilots and Escorts system. Discussions commenced last month with industry representatives and the relevant training providers, with a view to firming up the terms of reference for the Review. The Review is expected to be completed within six months and one of the key elements to be addressed will be the declaration of Pilots as ‘authorised persons’ for traffic management purposes. However, the review will also focus on other elements, such as the level and quality of training for accredited pilots, to improve the overall standard of operators within the industry. (5) Not applicable. (6) In relation to crashes there were a total of 1,070 recorded crashes involving articulated heavy vehicles (i.e. all vehicles 12.5 etres or greater in length) during 2001 and 2002. (7) Main Roads does not maintain crash data specific to vehicles under pilot escort but is only aware of one recent incident involving a piloted vehicle. This incident occurred in Geraldton in early July and it is understood was the result of driver error by the pilot. (8)-(9) See item (4) above.
(4) Main Roads has initiated a formal review of the operations and management of the Pilots and Escorts system. Discussions commenced last month with industry representatives and the relevant training providers, with a view to firming up the terms of reference for the Review. The Review is expected to be completed within six months and one of the key elements to be addressed will be the declaration of Pilots as ‘authorised persons’ for traffic management purposes. However, the review will also focus on other elements, such as the level and quality of training for accredited pilots, to improve the overall standard of operators within the industry. (5) Not applicable. (6) In relation to crashes there were a total of 1,070 recorded crashes involving articulated heavy vehicles (i.e. all vehicles 12.5 etres or greater in length) during 2001 and 2002. (7) Main Roads does not maintain crash data specific to vehicles under pilot escort but is only aware of one recent incident involving a piloted vehicle. This incident occurred in Geraldton in early July and it is understood was the result of driver error by the pilot. (8)-(9) See item (4) above.
(5) Not applicable. (6) In relation to crashes there were a total of 1,070 recorded crashes involving articulated heavy vehicles (i.e. all vehicles 12.5 etres or greater in length) during 2001 and 2002. (7) Main Roads does not maintain crash data specific to vehicles under pilot escort but is only aware of one recent incident involving a piloted vehicle. This incident occurred in Geraldton in early July and it is understood was the result of driver error by the pilot. (8)-(9) See item (4) above.
(6) In relation to crashes there were a total of 1,070 recorded crashes involving articulated heavy vehicles (i.e. all vehicles 12.5 etres or greater in length) during 2001 and 2002. (7) Main Roads does not maintain crash data specific to vehicles under pilot escort but is only aware of one recent incident involving a piloted vehicle. This incident occurred in Geraldton in early July and it is understood was the result of driver error by the pilot. (8)-(9) See item (4) above.
(7) Main Roads does not maintain crash data specific to vehicles under pilot escort but is only aware of one recent incident involving a piloted vehicle. This incident occurred in Geraldton in early July and it is understood was the result of driver error by the pilot. (8)-(9) See item (4) above.
(8)-(9) See item (4) above.
(4) Main Roads has initiated a formal review of the operations and management of the Pilots and Escorts system. Discussions commenced last month with industry representatives and the relevant training providers, with a view to firming up the terms of reference for the Review. The Review is expected to be completed within six months and one of the key elements to be addressed will be the declaration of Pilots as ‘authorised persons’ for traffic management purposes. However, the review will also focus on other elements, such as the level and quality of training for accredited pilots, to improve the overall standard of operators within the industry. (5) Not applicable. (6) In relation to crashes there were a total of 1,070 recorded crashes involving articulated heavy vehicles (i.e. all vehicles 12.5 etres or greater in length) during 2001 and 2002. (7) Main Roads does not maintain crash data specific to vehicles under pilot escort but is only aware of one recent incident involving a piloted vehicle. This incident occurred in Geraldton in early July and it is understood was the result of driver error by the pilot. (8)-(9) See item (4) above.
(5) Not applicable. (6) In relation to crashes there were a total of 1,070 recorded crashes involving articulated heavy vehicles (i.e. all vehicles 12.5 etres or greater in length) during 2001 and 2002. (7) Main Roads does not maintain crash data specific to vehicles under pilot escort but is only aware of one recent incident involving a piloted vehicle. This incident occurred in Geraldton in early July and it is understood was the result of driver error by the pilot. (8)-(9) See item (4) above.
(6) In relation to crashes there were a total of 1,070 recorded crashes involving articulated heavy vehicles (i.e. all vehicles 12.5 etres or greater in length) during 2001 and 2002. (7) Main Roads does not maintain crash data specific to vehicles under pilot escort but is only aware of one recent incident involving a piloted vehicle. This incident occurred in Geraldton in early July and it is understood was the result of driver error by the pilot. (8)-(9) See item (4) above.
(7) Main Roads does not maintain crash data specific to vehicles under pilot escort but is only aware of one recent incident involving a piloted vehicle. This incident occurred in Geraldton in early July and it is understood was the result of driver error by the pilot. (8)-(9) See item (4) above.
(8)-(9) See item (4) above.
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