Operation Solstice
Recently, at the QBIC Conference in Cairns, the NHVR’s COO Paul Salvati released the results of the bus inspection blitz.
“Operation Solstice targeted a range of critical compliance areas including ensuring buses were properly maintained and mechanically safe, and that drivers were complying with their work and rest hours,” Mr Salvati said.
The operation successfully intercepted over 2,200 buses, ensuring that many vehicles were properly maintained and drivers were adhering to safety regulations. As a clear indication of supporting industry, the NHVR provided over 80 hours of education to drivers, significantly raising awareness about obligations, especially on work diaries.
“We found an overall non-compliance rate of 19.1%, with mechanical and fatigue the highest areas of offending, although on a positive note, most mechanical non-compliance was minor”.
This operation has set a strong foundation for ongoing improvements in bus safety, demonstrating the industry’s commitment to protecting passengers and road users.
The BIC and NHVR will continue to work closely over the coming months to develop supportive material for bus operators. This includes ‘what to expect when you are intercepted by the NHVR’, and educational material for the bus industry on fatigue and work diaries.
Obscure fire retardant bans could severely impact industry
The Department of Climate Change Energy environment and Water (DCCEEW), recently and quietly sent out a proposal to restrict and then ban fire retardant chemicals such as Decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE). This chemical is widely used across the global automotive sector in wiring, electronics and plastics.
While the BIC is fully supportive of measures to improve the environment, this measure in particular was out of step with global frameworks to address them, such as the Stockholm Convention. Australia and Canada are the only countries proposing this.
The BIC, along with other automotive sectors, strongly voiced that any restrictions out of step with global practice would lead to suppliers re-engineering major parts of vehicle wiring, electronics and plastics to comply with this bespoke requirement.
With Australia being less than 1% of the global automotive sector, it’s unlikely vehicle manufacturers would invest to comply, which would lead to significant local job losses. The BIC and other car and truck transport peak bodies continue to pursue global harmonised measures in this area, and to monitor this situation.
