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At the Transport Maintenance Conference (TMC) in Melbourne, Trucksafe General Manager Justin Fleming presented Single Transport Services Pty Limited with the “Australian Trucking Association 20 years + Truck Safe Award - In recognition of Safety with Accreditation”.

Single Transport Services started their family business in Mackay on 13.2.1980 specialising in loading, transport, delivery and installation. Kent joined the business in February 2017. Single transport have recently taken delivery of a huge 53-tonne metre vehicle loading crane on a Kenworth T610 Prime Mover with a lifting capacity of 8+ tonne, doubling the crane lift capacity.

Carol Single is a foundation member of RAAG and her commitment has been recognised with RAAG life membership. She has held committee positions since the commencement of RAAG and is the current Secretary. Ian Single has also been supportive behind the scenes with RAAG projects including working with all levels of Government and Industry Associations to assist to gain funding for RAAG projects including Waverley Creek Rest Area, Eton Range Realignment, Walkerston Bypass and Nebo Heavy Vehicle Rest areas.

www.raag.com.au

This issue...

DISTRACTED DRIVING-THE YOUNG APPROACH

WORKINGOUT VISIBLY

321GREENREFLECTOR

LOCAL NEWS -Single Transport ServicesWINS NATIONAL AWARD

Photo L-R: Justin Fleming (General Manager at TruckSafe), Carol, Ian andKent Single (Single Transport Services Pty Limited)

Inside

Photo: Single Transport

Photo: Single Transport

Photo: Single Transport

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Source: www.tmr.qld.gov.au

Queensland has again recorded 247 road fatalities for the year just ended, exactly the same as 2017. Compared to other Australian states Queensland is well behind Victoria, the ACT and South Australia which had reductions in fatalities at a rate greater than 10 percent.

Queensland 2018 (to 31st December 2018) - 247 exactly the same as 2017Mackay Region 2018 (to 31st December 2018) - 15 which is a decrease of 7 on 2017.

The reduction in the number of local road fatalities is an excellent result. The fatality figure for the last 3 months of 2018 was only 2 compared to 8 in 2017 which goes some way towards explaining the drop.

An increased police presence on local roads in the last 3 months has resulted in an increase in the focus on capturing motorists who still drink and drug drive. However we must keep up the great work on keeping our roads safe places to drive.

RAAG IN THE COMMUNITYWorking out visibly

Sadly in 2018, 35 pedestrians were killed on Queensland roads.

In June 2017 at 8pm in Glenella, a well-liked Mackay local was tragically killed whilst out jogging. Additionally, anecdotal reports have been received from local transport contractors of locals exercising early in the morning and early evening being hard to see.

Many community members have also raised the issue that walkers, runners and cyclists could do more to reduce risk of vehicle impact by wearing higher visibility clothing and lighting. Mackay has had fatalities and serious injuries, this campaign is to raise visibility awareness across the “ work out” cohort.

RAAG recently received a community funding grant from the Mackay Regional Council to produce an awareness campaign to help reduce the number of near misses and incidents that are occurring on local roads.

The education campaign on radio with catchy slogans will reinforce the message of working out visibly.

At these times of the day, namely early morning and early evening, visibility is reduced. The promotional media program will encourage people to be clearly visible by wearing a hi-vis vest or similar high visibility clothing to really stand out so motorists can clearly see and avoid them and prevent another tragedy similar to the one in June 2017.

TOTAL CRASH FATALITY Statistics

On November 22nd 2018 RAAG held its Annual General Meeting.

After 13 years of leading RAAG as either chairman or vice-chairman, Noel Lang has decided to step back from the executive role, allowing for a change of the guard. The AGM saw Brett Hoskin step into the role and now assumes the position of chairman.

Brett has been an active member of the RAAG committee for many years and has a wealth of knowledge in the field of road safety. Brett will be supported by strong committee consisting of the following members.

AGM Meet ournew committee

CHAIRMANBrett Hoskin

COMMITTEE Carol Single - Life Member Graeme Ransley - Life MemberNoel Lang - Life MemberCr. Kev Casey John FraterCr. Geoff Bethel

Exactly the same as 2017 Mackay Region:

which is an decrease of

2018: FATALITIES

TOTAL CRASH FATALITY STATISTICS

Source: TMR & QPSPhoto: RAAG

All welcome at RAAG monthly meetings. See website for details.

www.raag.com.au

Committee members

Road transport is the lifeblood of our local region with heavy vehicles providing the goods to keep our mining and agricultural sectors thriving. There are approximately 3,000 kilometres of roads in the Bowen Basin and journeys along them can be physically tiring for the drivers who provide this vital service.

Tiredness and fatigue have been recognised as significant causes in road crashes and it is essential that suitable rest stops are available for heavy vehicle drivers to pull over and rest and manage their fatigue.

However not all rest areas are the ones motorists are familiar with when travelling on holiday. There are a network of informal rest areas that provide an essential stopping place for heavy vehicle drivers to pull over,

have a break and meet the fatigue management requirements.

In 2013 RAAG was successful in being awarded a Road Safety Grant from Transport and Main Roads Queensland to develop a program to map out and identify informal heavy vehicle stopping places. However foremost in that program was the need to alert the heavy vehicle driver that they were approaching such an area.

There are many sites on regional highways used by heavy vehicles as stopping places that are not formally provided or maintained by TMR. Because they are informal, there is little advanced warning of their location. This can lead to a fatigued heavy vehicle driver passing a suitable stopping point, or having to undertake sudden braking manoeuvres that are dangerous to themselves and other road users.

This project involves the installation of ‘3-2-1 green reflectors’ to provide advanced notice of informal Heavy Vehicle stopping places. The reflectors are installed on existing road guideposts and are aimed to provide HV drivers with more opportunities to stop and rest if fatigued.

More information including link to guidelines is available on the RAAG website. www.raag.com.au/321-green-light-reflector-v2/

Following Cyclone Debbie in 2017, and normal damage to guideposts subsequently, casual observation has shown that at least 50% of identified gauideposts no longer have stickers, and in numerous cases sites have no identification at all.

RAAG is now seeking funding through the National Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative to address the issue of damaged and missing guideposts and to further develop the program.

If your organisation is supportive of the initiative please forward RAAG a letter of support to the email address of the Road Safety Coordinator at admin@ raag.com.au

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RAAG will again in 2019 continue its Distracted Driving program involving local schools. 5 local schools are involved in the program with students, teachers and parents all expected to become partners.

The program will again give teachers a thorough understanding of the Distracted Driver problem and also leverage the teachers as a conduit for building trust and engagement with student groups.

The program will involve a wide range of activities giving all parties the opportunity to encourage their immediate communities to ask questions/start dialogue about Distracted Driving and/or the project, thus reinforcing student participation and driving behaviour.

It is anticipated that students will be in the media for the project as it will encourage their immediate communities to ask questions /start the dialogue to reinforce student’s participation and driving behaviour.

RAAG’S FOCUS 2019 DISTRACTED DRIVING THE YOUNG APPROACH

3-2-1 GREEN REFLECTOR program upgrade submission

Enough is Enough

Photo: RAAG

Photo: RAAG

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RAAG CONTACTS:RAAG meets on the second Thursday of each month - 10am at the Department of Transport and Main Roads, Ness Street, Mackay.* Please note that venues are subject to change so please confirm this via email, if you would like to attend. Email: admin@raag.com.auPostal: PO Box 3105, Mackay North, QLD 4740 Website: www.raag.com.au

Acting Chairman: Brett Hoskin 0447 714 336 Road Safety Coordinator: Richard Incledon 0455 022 299Secretary: Carol Single Treasurer: John Frater Committee Members: Graeme Ransley, Cr. Geoff Bethel,Cr. Kev Casey, Noel Lang, Carol Single.

RAAG CONTACTS:

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RAAG currently employs a part time RSC. Our current RSC is Richard Incledon. Richard has an extensive employment record in transport and logistics including senior positions with Caltex, Toll and BP Australia.

How did you become involved with RAAG? - I first had contact with RAAG back in 2007 when I was with Toll and found the organisation doing tremendous work across the region raising the awareness of road safety through its projects and presentations.

What is your role? - The RSC is responsible for the day to day administration of RAAG including handling correspondence both snail mail and email, telephone enquiries, liaising with stakeholders, assisting in road safety presentations, preparing the quarterly RAAG Round Up and arranging the monthly RAAG meetings.

What do you believe are the greatest challenges for road safety? - changing our behaviours to make our roads safer places to drive. Being more patient, considerate and following the road rules.

What advice would you give to young drivers? – follow the Fatal Five, don’t speed, don’t drive if you’re affected by drugs or alcohol, don’t drive tired, always wear your seat belt and importantly don’t get distracted by mobile phones.

If you need to contact RAAG please don’t hesitate to contact Richard on 0455 022 299.

With the wet season now well and truly upon us it is time to once again focus on the message of IF IT’S FLOODED FORGET IT!

Already this year there have been incidents of motorists ignoring the message and placing their own lives and the lives of emergency workers who have to rescue them, at risk.

Source:(ABC News: Tom Forbes)

Road Safety Tip of the Month :

Our Road Safety Coordinator

Photo: AUTO CORNER

Richard conducting a safety presentation at Auto Corners Kickstart Workshop