Australia Post has today announced a four-year partnership with the Australian Trucking Association (ATA) with a focus on safety on the roads.
The announcement coincides with National Road Safety Week, and includes a $200,000 sponsorship pledge for the rebranded Volvo ATA Safety Truck.
The Volvo ATA Safety Truck is a road safety exhibition that has been in operation since 2008, and is now being updated to specifically target 16 to 25 year old drivers and vulnerable road users.
The partnership will have a focus on educating drivers on how to share the road safely with heavy vehicles through hands-on informative, small group presentations and virtual reality technology, and will see Australia Post join the ATA's corporate sponsors providing funds for the rebranded truck.
Australia Post Group Chief Operating Officer Bob Black said the new arrangement showcases Australia Post's focus on road safety education, especially among younger drivers.
"We are always looking for ways to keep our people and communities safe. Every year over 1,200 people are killed and 35,000 seriously injured on our roads," Mr Black said.
"Last year we experienced 768 road injuries across our workforce nationally. That means every workday three posties are injured in motor vehicle accidents – that is three posties too many.
"This is an important partnership to help end road incidents and trauma – especially involving heavy vehicles which are a big part of our network."
Australian Trucking Association CEO Ben Maguire said the ATA was thrilled to have Australia Post's support for this educational and behavioural change campaign, with the new truck set to be on the roads in October 2019.
"Official estimates show that about 80 per cent of fatal multi-vehicle crashes involving trucks are not the fault of the truck driver. 25 per cent of occupants involved in a casualty crash with a truck are aged 26 years or younger, however this age group only represents only 10 to 15 per cent of the driver population," Mr Maguire said.
"Australia Post's support for this project demonstrates a commitment to road safety and a shared vision of zero fatal or serious injury crashes on our roads."
