Australia Post and the Australian Trucking Association (ATA) have launched a four-year partnership with a focus on road safety.
The announcement coincides with National Road Safety Week, and includes a $200,000 sponsorship pledge for the rebranded Volvo ATA Safety Truck, a road safety exhibition that has been in operation since 2008.
The safety truck has been updated to specifically target 16 to 25-year-old drivers and vulnerable road users.
Group Chief Operating Officer at Australia Post, Bob Black said the partnership would have a focus on educating drivers on how to share the road safely with heavy vehicles.
He said this would be done through hands-on informative, small group presentations and virtual reality technology, and would see Australia Post join the ATA’s corporate sponsors, providing funds for the rebranded truck.
“We are always looking for ways to keep our people and communities safe,” Mr Black said.
“Every year over 1,200 people are killed and 35,000 seriously injured on our roads.
“Last year we experienced 768 road injuries across our workforce nationally. That means every workday three posties are injured in motor vehicle accidents.”
He said the partnership would help end road incidents and trauma, especially involving heavy vehicles.
Chief Executive of the ATA, Ben Maguire said the new truck would be on the road by October.
“Official estimates show that about 80 per cent of fatal multi-vehicle crashes involving trucks are not the fault of the truck driver, while 25 per cent of occupants involved in a casualty crash with a truck are aged 26 years or younger,” Mr Maguire said.
