Motorists Urged to Take Extra Care During Grain and Grape Harvests
Friday November 21, 2014
Griffith City Council encourages local drivers to be extra vigilant and cautious on the roads as heavy vehicle movement increases in the region for grain and grape harvests.
Council’s Road Safety Officer Greg Balind said grain harvest has already started, signaling a busy period on the region’s roads with heavy vehicles operating almost around the clock to move produce from the farm to delivery points.
“The early grain harvest will be closely followed by the grape harvest, then rice and cotton, so heavy vehicles will be a common sight on our roads well into the first half of 2015.
I appeal to everyone to exercise caution when sharing the road with heavy vehicles,” Mr Balind said. “Due to their size and weight, heavy vehicles require more room on our roads and all drivers need to allow room for trucks to manoeuvre safely, account for their longer breaking distances, and width when negotiating corners, roundabouts and narrow roads,” he added.
During the harvest period, weight limits and driver fatigue are two significant areas of focus for operators and drivers. Under the Chain of Responsibility legislation, growers, road transport providers and receivers of produce could be held liable if and when road transport laws are breached, explained Griffith’s Deputy Mayor Doug Curran.
“Under that legislation, receival points can be compelled to provide records relating to their deliveries and if Chain of Responsibility laws have been broken, growers and transport operators can be prosecuted,” Councillor Curran said. “Now is the time to make sure all vehicles are road worthy and operators are aware of their obligations relating to weight and fatigue management laws.”
Additionally, there will be an increase in the movement of freight across the rail network during harvest season. Rail lines, which have been dormant over the winter months, will now host freight trains using branch lines to transport produce from outer areas to distribution hubs.
“The Griffith Local Government Area has numerous level crossings which are managed by static stop or give way signs so there is no visual or audible warning of an approaching train. Drivers must make sure that they stop and check in both directions and not assume that it is safe to cross,” Mr Balind said.
“Heavy vehicle drivers should remember that it takes longer for loaded trucks to clear a railway crossing and at all times be certain there is ample room on the other side of the crossing to avoid the rear trailer overhanging the tracks,” he added.
Too many motorists take risks at level crossings, which is concerning given a train needs a significant length of track to come to a complete stop. On average there are 10 crashes per year involving trains and road vehicles at level crossings throughout the state, creating the need for extra care at rural level crossings.
For more information, please contact Council’s Road Safety Officer Greg Balind on (02) 6962 8100 or visit the NSW Roads and Maritime website http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/.
