New signage will be rolled out on road trains and other heavy vehicles in Western Australia that measure over 22 metres in length this month.
The new visual signage, to be displayed on the rear of restricted access vehicles, is designed to assist other drivers in making more informed decisions when sharing the road with heavy vehicles.
The new visual signage will show the number of trailers and total length of road train combinations, including a graphic which shows the total length of the heavy vehicle as an equivalent number of car lengths.
The signage will replace the existing road train and long vehicle signage on all WA vehicles between 22 and 60 metres in length.
WA Acting Transport Minister, John Carey, said the initiative is all about making roads easier to navigate and safer for all drivers by giving motorists the length of larger vehicles they may be sharing the road with.
“We rely on road trains to keep our economy moving and we know how intimidating it can sometimes be to try to overtake one,” he said.
“This way other drivers have the information in front of them regarding how long the vehicle is which helps them to make a more informed decision when overtaking.”
WA is the only state to have this type of signage, and according to the State Government, it has generated interest from other interstate road authorities.
The new change is introduced after 90 per cent of respondents voted in favour of the new signage following its trial on freight vehicles throughout 2022 and 2023.
“There was great feedback following the successful trial last year and I look forward to the rollout in coming months,” Carey said.
Interstate heavy vehicle operators travelling across the border to WA will not be penalised, as existing warning signage will be recognised and accepted.
There will be a six-month transition period to the new regulatory signs, starting from 1 July.
In other news, a breakthrough in solar cells could be huge for solar energy production and the decarbonisation of road transport and manufacturing.
The post Road trains to receive new safety signage appeared first on Trailer Magazine.