THE National Heavy Vehicle Regulator has opened submissions for Round 8 of the Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative to fund new projects to deliver a safer heavy vehicle industry.
Project submissions must address the themes of safer drivers, safer vehicles or safer road use by investing in driver or supply chain skills and training, vehicle safety technologies and improvements, or heavy vehicle educational tools and resources.
The Australian government has committed more than $4 million towards Round 8 of the HVSI.
Infrastructure, transport, regional development and local government minister Catherine King said the government’s investment is directly helping those in the heavy vehicle industry and its supply chains to deliver projects that will improve safety across their day-to-day operations and on our roads.
“I encourage those working closely with heavy vehicles, whether its local councils, freight and logistics, warehousing or the community, to submit projects they want to see come to life to solve a safety gap or issue,” she said.
Assistant minister for infrastructure and transport Senator Carol Brown said the HVSI program has already funded 132 industry-led safety projects to support Australia’s heavy vehicle, transport and logistics sector.
“Successful projects from previous rounds, such as the Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils’ Load Restraint Education Project and OzHelp’s Health in Gear Owner Driver Health and Wellness Program, have helped drivers feel safe on the work site and on our roads,” she said.
And NHVR chief executive officer Sal Petroccitt said, “We are casting the net wide, calling for submissions from across all sectors, to give everyone an opportunity to deliver the heavy vehicle safety improvements they are passionate about.
“It’s about investing in the initiatives that will ensure the heavy vehicle industry continues to move safely, now and into the future.”
