News

Almost 70 per cent of Australians want truck movements restricted to non-peak periods and 50 per cent want large trucks banned from cities, according to polling released today by a public transport and health coalition. The Australian Trucking Association (ATA) has, however, dismissed the results.

Australasian Railway Association

The ARA says the poll of 1,500 Australians was released at a Parliament House Summit addressing the issues of carbon pollution, road congestion, the growing population, and public transport.

The Auspoll survey also found that more than 80 per cent of Australians want the Federal Government to be more involved in the strategic funding and planning of our public transport systems.

Bryan Nye, CEO of the Australasian Railway Association (ARA) says the polling confirms that Australians are tired of wasting time in traffic jams and want the government to act.

“Traffic congestion costs Australians more than $15 billion a year through time wasted in traffic, delays and disruptions to businesses, associated health problems and road accidents. Our congested roads are a result of poor planning. It impedes Australia’s productivity and liveability of our cities. Australians want a solution,” said Mr Nye.

“This is not an argument about road or rail. However, if we are to relieve road congestion and make our roads safer, there is only one solution and that is the better use of our rail networks.”

According to the poll, 87 per cent of Australians support improving public transport to reduce traffic congestion. If we are to achieve this, the Federal Government’s role is critical.

“Rail has been experiencing significant growth in major cities and regional areas. Over the past two years, passenger numbers have increased by 60,000 each week,” said Mr Nye.

“Our rail networks are reaching or exceeding capacity, particularly during peak periods. The Federal Government must take the lead in increasing capacity and planning for public transport across Australia. It must increase infrastructure funding and assist State Governments to deliver more services where they are needed,” continued Mr Nye.

Relieving capacity constraints in our transport systems will help position public transport as a key solution to road congestion, reducing carbon emissions, and minimising our dependence on imported oils.

“With the overwhelming number of Australians seeing a bigger role for the Federal Government in enhancing our public transport system, the government must step up and take the challenge. The problems of congestion, carbon emissions and fuel vulnerability will only get bigger every day. We need to act now to secure a better and brighter future for all Australians,” concluded Mr Nye.

The poll was initiated by a coalition of seven key bodies; the ARA, Australian Conservation Foundation, Australian Local Government Association, Bus Industry Confederation, Cycling Promotion Fund, Heart Foundation, and International Public Transport Association.

Australian Trucking Association

The Australian Trucking Association (ATA) has dismissed the results of a poll showing that 50 per cent of Australians want large trucks banned from cities.

ATA chief executive Stuart St Clair said replacing big trucks with smaller ones would just increase congestion, with more trucks needed to deliver the goods Australians use every day.

“A semi-trailer can carry three times more than a smaller, two-axle rigid truck,” Mr St Clair said.

“As a result, it takes 42 semi-trailer trips to deliver a thousand tonnes of goods, such as the items you see on the shelves of every supermarket. They’re delivered by truck, not by rail. It would take 143 trips for two-axle trucks to deliver the same amount of freight”.

“There would be more trucks on the road and congestion would be worse”.

Mr St Clair said banning larger trucks from cities would also worsen greenhouse gas emissions.

“The 143 two-axle rigid truck trips would create 66 per cent more greenhouse gas emissions than using semi-trailers to deliver the same tonnage.”

Mr St Clair referred to figures from a 2007 study by the Monash University Accident Research Centre, which showed that replacing large trucks with a greater number of smaller trucks would increase the number of road accidents.

“Using larger trucks to deliver goods reduces the number of vehicles on the road. The statistics show there are fewer accidents as a result.”