BIC Submission to the NHVR’s National Heavy Vehicle Safety Strategy 2021-2025

The BIC provided a response to the Consultation Draft of the Heavy Vehicle Safety Strategy 2021-25 (Strategy). The Strategy will be supported by an Action Plan, produced annually, which will outline the activities, responsibilities, and timeframes for delivery that the NHVR will undertake over the five-year life of the Strategy. The Strategy is aligned to the draft National Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030 (Office of Road Safety) for which the BIC also provided a submission (download here). The 10 year strategy from the Office of Road Safety sets out Australia’s road safety objectives, key priorities for action, and road trauma reduction targets to 2030. The heavy vehicle safety strategy placed a major focus on:

• partnerships with stakeholders
• supporting modern and safer vehicles
• driver safety
• creating positive change in behaviours and culture to improve safety.

The BIC’s response to the Strategy provided a number of recommendations to government relating to partnerships, bus safety initiatives, driver health and well-being initiatives. The BIC also outlined a 10-point National Bus Safety Strategy and advocated for the need for a National Bus Specification Guideline with the aim to provide a consistent (minimum) set of safety standards which would assist purchases by bus and coach businesses.